Connect to the Capitol: Remembering Jesse Jackson, sports gambling in SC

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) – This week, South Carolina leaders on mourned the death of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, remembering the Greenville native as a towering figure in the civil rights movement whose decades of activism reshaped American politics and opened doors for generations of Black leaders.

Gov. Henry McMaster called Jackson “a native son of South Carolina, and an icon of the civil rights movement.”

McMaster said he would direct flags over the State House to be lowered at the appropriate time to honor Jackson’s legacy and memory.

Congressman Jim Clyburn called Jackson “one of the most quintessential civil rights leaders” and recalled their lifelong friendship, which began at rival South Carolina high schools and continued in college.

Clyburn highlighted Jackson’s early activism in Greenville in 1960, including efforts to desegregate the public library and lead sit-ins, and his founding of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition to uplift the “voiceless and downtrodden.”

He also noted Jackson’s presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988, as well as his work with Operation Breadbasket, anti-apartheid activism, voter registration, and corporate diversity initiatives, which advanced opportunity and equality for Black Americans.

It should not be lost on any of us the impact that Reverend Jackson has had on the nation, Black Americans, and movements to encourage civic participation around the world. His vision is his legacy, and his teachings continue to inspire me as I continue the pursuit of justice and equality, Clyburn said.

President and CEO of the Columbia Urban League, J.T. McLawhorn also said Jackson achieved international objectives that helped secure the release of dozens of hostages and prisoners in situations where the U.S. government had been unable to do so.

I consider him a global diplomat. Look at him, he should have received the Nobel peace prize because I think a lot of people look at Dr. Jackson as someone who only promoted equal opportunity in the south, but he was a global person.

CAMPUS SAFETY IN SOUTH CAROLINA

In the wake of this month’s deadly double shooting at South Carolina State, lawmakers at the State House are moving forward with a proposal aimed at tightening safety requirements on college campuses across South Carolina.

The state House Education and Public Works Committee voted unanimously Thursday morning to immediately send a college safety bill, H-5205, to the House floor.

The proposal has been under discussion for several months and would strengthen security measures and improve emergency response on college campuses as schools across the state continue to face concerns about violence and campus readiness.

“I pray that the parents see that we’re trying to protect their children as well and that’s important,” said Rep. Terry Alexander, a Democrat from Florence County.

Beaufort County Republican Shannon Erickson, the committee chairwoman, said the bill is intended to address urgent safety concerns for students and families.

“Our families need the confidence that their children are going to safe place when they’re there. We’ve been working on the campus safety bill for quite some time and I think recent events really pushed us forward in moving it in a faster way,” Erickson said.

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Erickson said last week’s shooting at South Carolina State intensified the call for change.

Two teenagers were killed and a student who was wounded remains in the hospital. It was the second deadly campus shooting at South Carolina State since October.

“It really hit home for us. SC State is one of our most wonderful historically Black Colleges, we are very supportive of their administration and what they’re trying to do and what we now know is that this crime came from unaffiliated people and that is a problem we’ve got to address. That’s the piece that really hit home to us what could have been different,” Erickson said.

If the proposal passes, college campuses would be required to provide mandatory safety training for students during orientation or within their first 30 days.

Campuses would also be required to report both student-affiliated and non-affiliated crimes on campus to local law enforcement.

SPORTS GAMBLING IN SOUTH CAROLINA

Sports betting on a mobile device could become legal in South Carolina under a proposal state lawmakers are now debating, setting up a fight over regulation, revenue and the expansion of gambling.

After a roughly two-hour hearing Wednesday, a legislative subcommittee decided to continue conversations about a bill that would legalize online mobile sports betting in South Carolina.

Supporters say betting is already happening and that the state is missing out on revenue, while opponents warn it would increase addiction and other harms.

Trevor Hayes of Caesar’s Entertainment told lawmaker data from Caesars Entertainment shows legal operators are allowing people to place bets from South Carolina and the state does not profit from it.

Hayes told the panel:

“These companies started offering bets at the end of 2024 and last month Kalshi, the largest operator among them, took over $10 billion in handle for the month. 10 billion. This is happening right now in your state.”

If approved, South Carolina could join 38 other states that have legalized mobile sports betting.

Even if the proposal were to pass both the House and Senate, Gov. Henry McMaster has indicated he would not sign something into law that makes gambling like this legal.

Gov. McMaster has long said that he would not sign such a plan into law. He said this back in April:

“Once you start letting gambling into the house it will grow and by the time such a bill makes it all the way through, you’re going to have all sorts of gambling ideas.”

His office says his position on sports betting remains consistent and that there needs to be another way to bring revenue into the state.

Sen. Josh Kimbrell, a Republican from Spartanburg County who is a member of the subcommittee, argues that a regulated market would be better than illegal gambling.

“415,000 South Carolinians have accounts right now and they’re driving across the border to North Carolina or to Tennessee or a state where it’s currently legal to go place their sports bets and so what we’re saying is let’s get rid of the black market and make sure there’s not some underground bootlegger sort of operation and make it clear and regulated.”

Kimbrell said he supports the bill, while emphasizing he does not want broader gambling expansion in the state.

.Opponents, including members of Palmetto Family Alliance, told lawmakers the proposal would do more harm than good.

They argue men ages 18 to 29 are the most vulnerable to gambling harm, including higher bankruptcy risk and bad credit.

Randy Page, executive vice president of Palmetto Family Alliance, said:

“The concern that we have is the predatory nature of gambling and how it affects people and particularly looking at online sports betting and how it affects young men and the addiction just the availability of it.”

The panel expects more discussion on the bill before making a decision on the proposal.