Nina Turner: Confronting War-Focused Politicians in South Carolina

 

Former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner with SC Senators Margie Bright Matthews and Mia McLeod  Javar Juarez/CUBNSC ©

By Javar Juarez - (CUBNSC)

Former Ohio Senator and progressive powerhouse Nina Turner toured South Carolina this weekend in support of the South Carolina Legislative Progressive Caucus. One of her stops was the Broad River District, home to the Columbia Urban Broadcast Network. Turner joined Representative Jermaine Johnson to speak to the Gangs and Peace community organization, a group dedicated to de-escalating tensions between rival gangs and teaching youth conflict resolution and better decision-making.

Turner emphasized the need to support and uplift Black men, highlighting their critical role in the evolution of the Black community and the necessity of their support for Black women. "If you want to support Black women, make sure you build up Black men too," she said, shedding light on the continued disenfranchisement of Black men, who face high expectations with scarce resources and training.

S.C. Rep. Jermaine Johnson, Nina Turner, Gangs and Peace. Javar Juarez/CUBNSC©

South Carolina Legislative Progressive Caucus Hosts Inaugural "Progressive Power Awards and Gala."

South Carolina Legislative Progressive  Javar Juarez/CUBNSC©

Turner was the featured keynote speaker at the inaugural South Carolina Legislative Progressive Caucus (SCLPC) awards ceremony and gala in Orangeburg on Saturday. Attendees included House Representative John Richard C. King of York County, Chair of the SCLPC; outgoing Senator and SCLPC Co-Chair Mia McLeod of Kershaw and Richland Counties; and Senator Margie Bright Matthews, representing Allendale, Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton, and Jasper Counties.

Turner's fiery rebuke of establishment politics sent shockwaves through the packed crowd, eliciting an abundance of "Amen's" and "Ouches" throughout the event. She laid a resounding foundation for the alarm against dark money and corporatist Democrats and extremist Republicans that obstruct real progress.

Nikki Hailey Signs Artillery Shell in the Gaza Credit: Danny Danon & AP

Turner is a passionate advocate for strengthening Black families against the oppressive tactics used by those in power, particularly in conservative states like South Carolina. This state remains one of the most conservative in America, setting the precedent for many far-right movements, politics, and policies. The current governor, Henry McMaster, continues the legacy of resistance to change, following in the footsteps of his predecessors. His policies are steeped in partisan rigidity, mirroring the cold-hearted, capitalistic, and racially charged undertones of the former president, Donald Trump, now a criminally convicted felon.

McMaster's administration has championed some of America's most stringent laws, targeting transgender individuals, Black communities, women, abortion rights, and labor. McMaster went so far as to declare that he would fight labor unions "to the gates of hell," stating, "We do not need any more union participation in South Carolina." His actions epitomize conservative loyalty, yet he pales in comparison to former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.

Turner delivered a strong rebuke against former presidential candidate Nikki Haley, who was recently photographed signing an artillery shell with the caption "Finish Them," referencing the imperialistic ambitions in Gaza and the genocide against Palestinians funded by U.S. taxpayers.

SCLPC Attendees Hear Nina Turner's Address Javar Juarez/CUBNSC©

“Who is the 'them'?” Turner exclaimed in her address. “Anytime you have someone with that kind of power and influence who can cavalierly sign a warhead—who does that? 'Finish Them!' Our sisters, brothers, family, and friends in Gaza are who she was referring to. But when I check her record here in South Carolina, the 'them' are people who look like you in this room.”

Turner added, "This is the same Haley who has consistently refused to acknowledge the true causes of the Civil War," instead scapegoating it as a fight for "states' rights." Turner reminded the audience that during her tenure, Haley opposed removing the Confederate Battle Flag, claiming it represented "heritage, not hate," and that it took a Black woman named Bree Newsome to take the flag down. Bree Newsome Bass was arrested after climbing a flagpole at the South Carolina State Capitol.

Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty images file

"In pointing to South Carolina’s elected leaders, Turner referred to Sen. Lindsey Graham, who recently stated that Israel should do 'whatever' it has to, comparing the war in Gaza to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Turner said, 'Lindsey Graham is celebrating America bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We are the only nation on the face of the earth thus far that dropped an atomic bomb on some folks, and his mentality is that we should celebrate that. Do y'all understand what kind of folks we are dealing with?' "I want you to connect the dots, because this is it: when you have people like them, they personify a mentality that just doesn’t give a damn about human life. How do we expect Nikki Haley, Lindsey Graham, or anyone navigating the federal level of government—from Democrat to Republican—to care about the bombing of other people’s children in Gaza when they don’t care about starving children right here in South Carolina? "The same mentality that allows people to turn their backs on that kind of suffering cannot be expected to care whether or not we have universal health care, paid family leave, or an increased federal minimum wage to 15 dollars an hour. There’s a whole lot of Democrats rocking and rolling on the federal level with that same mentality. See, I don’t play games. You can say 'Amen' or you can say 'Ouch.'"

She went on to say, "It matters who you elect in these state legislatures, as they are closer to you than the federal level. They have the ability to make crooked paths straight in real time. So, we can't get caught up with who is in the White House. It matters, but not as much as who serves in your legislature. It matters, but not as much as who is in the governor's mansion."

Nina Turner 

Javar Juarez/CUBNSC ©

Turner's words highlight that in South Carolina, Black people historically and predominantly vote in federal races but are largely absent from voting in key races that shape the state house. Joe Biden won decisively in South Carolina’s Democratic presidential primary with roughly 96% of the vote, but overall voter turnout was low at only 4%, with 131,870 votes cast. The Upstate was no exception, with voter turnout around 2-3% in most counties. Such low voter turnout could impact South Carolina's position in the primaries in 2028.

This is likely due in large part to the South Carolina Democratic Party's failure to expand its reach and capacity to engage Black voters with proper messaging, create an inclusive welcome, and target the communities in the most despair. The party is grappling with growing discontentment among its base, particularly towards primary figures like James Clyburn, whose reputation has declined in recent years. Turner has been vocal against the type of politics that James "Jim" Clyburn represents and has often been the target of his attacks due to her anti-establishment, anti-oligarchic, pro-people stance.

Nina Turner was the front runner in the highly contentious 2022 race for Ohio's 11th Congressional District, a contest that garnered national attention due to the involvement of high-profile Democrats like Hillary Clinton and Jim Clyburn just to name a few. 

Turner lost her race against corporate Democrat Shontel Brown largely due to a significant infusion of corporate money, often dark, in the final stretch of the campaign. This funding financed well-timed lies that ultimately buried Turner's campaign.

An article in The Intercept titled "In the Race Against Nina Turner, GOP Donors Fund Shontel Brown" highlighted how Republican donors selected their "preferred" Democrat, supported by a pro-Israel PAC. With just one week left in the Ohio primary, Republican donors jumped in, though major PACs had already been involved in the previous month or two. The most significant factor in Turner's defeat was the Democratic Majority for Israel (DMFI), a hybrid super PAC that spent $1.2 million on ads supporting Brown and opposing Turner. Many of these donors had also contributed significantly to Republican candidates and conservative causes.

To illustrate what Turner's campaign faced in the final days, consider the false information in the mailers that went out to constituents: 

"Raise the minimum wage? Nina Turner's against it. Universal healthcare? Nina Turner's against it. Immigration reform? Nina Turner's against it." These statements were blatant lies. 

The truth is, Turner had criticized the Democratic platform for not going far enough, as it didn’t include Medicare for All, universal healthcare, human rights for Palestinians, or a condemnation of illegal settlements. She opposed the platform from the left, yet they falsely claimed she was against raising the minimum wage and universal healthcare, despite her strong advocacy for these issues. These were outright lies that misrepresented her positions. This is the kind of Democratic Party we have come to know—the kind that is so embedded with corporations, greed, money, and power that they have turned their backs on everyday Americans, including Black South Carolinians who continue to go without, all while listening to unfulfilled promises from figures like South Carolina’s own Jim Clyburn. 

Where do we go from here? 

Nina Turner Keynote Javar Juarez/CUBNSC©

In her keynote address to the Progressive Caucus, turner reminded us of the fact that despite today's political climate, South Carolina at one time produced the most progressive state legislature in the country. The 1868 constitution was revolutionary because it embodied many democratic principles absent from previous constitutions. The new document provided for population alone, rather than wealth or the combination of wealth and population, as the basis for House representation. It also continued popular election of the governor. Additionally, the 1868 constitution abolished debtors’ prison, provided for public education, abolished property ownership as a qualification for office holding, granted some rights to women, and created counties. Provisions [in schools] for the deaf and blind were also ordered. Race was abolished as a limit on male suffrage. The Black Codes that had flourished under the constitution of 1865 were overturned. There was no provision against interracial marriage, and all the public schools were open to all races. The legislature also shifted tax burden to large plantation owners. 

"You are the tip of the spear, South Carolina. This caucus is walking in the footsteps of leaders like Senator Moses Martin and his colleagues, demonstrating what it means to be progressive and to lift people up by changing material conditions, not just giving good speeches. They put it into action here in South Carolina. You did it then, and you can do it again."

 Murray's Mortuary North Charleston, S.C. 20th Anniversary. Javar Juarez/CUBNSC©

Departing from Orangeburg on the final day with Senator Turner, we were on our way to an authentic Charleston celebration for Murray's Mortuary,- a prestigious Black owned mortuary in North Charleston, sponsored by the South Carolina Legislative Progressive Caucus. During our journey, Turner issued a call to action for all progressives in the state: 

"The South Carolina Legislative Progressive Caucus is traveling the state right now, awakening sleeping giants. You have to prick people's consciousness, make them aware, and have the necessary conversations. It’s hard work, not magical. There's nothing different from how our elders and ancestors did it in the past. The benefit we have today is social media, giving us two public squares: the physical and the digital. We need to get people more animated about participating in the physical public square and use social media to push our message far beyond those in the physical space. Organize, organize, organize! When you’re done organizing, organize some more. To do that, you have to pierce people's consciousness and let them know. Sound the alarm, ring the bell!

"We can't ask others to do more for us than we are willing to do ourselves, both individually and communally. Everyone has a role to play, and you have to play it. Like a sports team, everyone has their position. In basketball, all five players must be in tune and play their part; otherwise, the team might not win. In a 440 relay race, each leg has a specific role: the first leg gets a lead, the second and third legs keep and advance the lead, and the anchor brings it home. This relay of life never ends; we continuously pass the baton.

Nina and Jay Belton Director of the SCLPC Javar Juarez/CUBNSC©

"In this spectacular moment in South Carolina's history, there's a palpable synergy that Brandon Upson and Jay Belton have been talking about. Those who believe in justice must tap into this energy and get others to do the same. We’re going to union halls, having strategic meetings with leaders from different backgrounds to find out what it takes for us to work together to advance the lead."

I asked Turner what she would say to those who make it hard for younger generations to do more, those who refuse to pass the baton. She responded:

"Individuals like that are not on the team. Just because you’re in the room doesn’t mean you’re part of the team. A team works together. You pass the baton to those willing to pass it. Sometimes it’s not generational because some younger folks have the same mindset we’re fighting against. We are fighting against neo-liberalism, neo-fascism, and those who uphold the status quo. We’ll take all comers on this team, but they must understand that the current situation isn’t working and doesn’t have to be the future. We have to create a human rights economy using minds from academia, people on the streets, and those in the legislature. Everyone has a role to play.

"I met with a group of unionists today and we discussed the Freedom Budget spearheaded by A. Philip Randolph, one of the greatest unionists of the 20th century. He organized Black men on the rail cars and focused on the 'Freedom from Want.' He understood that to advance Black people socially, economically, politically, and spiritually, he had to flip the script for all Americans. The Freedom Budget for all Americans (1966-1975) aimed to abolish poverty, guarantee full employment, protect economic growth, ensure adequate wages, provide decent homes, modern health services, full educational opportunities, updated Social Security, and equitable tax policies. These are the same things we talk about in the 21st century.

"We must discuss these issues so we can execute our plans. In the huddle, whether in basketball or football, the coach has the playbook and reevaluates plays in real time. That's what we have to do. We need community meetings to inform people they deserve better and can have better. We need to strategize, organize, and mobilize!"

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Javar Juarez is the senior director of the CUBN, an American Businessman, Writer, Community Organizer, Entertainer and Political Consultant. follow us on X: Twitter/X 

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