YCDP-TV

York County Council Republicans have been playing a long game with the county library system. They didn’t have much choice, but a culture war battle that started in 2022 is finally about to be completed.

In 2022, Councilman Tom Audette started making noise about a list of children’s books in the library that addressed LGBTQ topics. He didn’t invent the issue—it had been a hot potato in right-wing circles for a while in other areas of the state and nation. Back then, behind the scenes, he was reported to be floating the idea of banning some of those books—removing them from the library completely. As the question became more public in 2023, he and cohorts realized that banning the books was a bridge too far. They proposed moving the books to the adult section, a “reasonable” solution that meant children… even older teenagers… wouldn’t come across them.

The library board said ‘no’. The books were where they belonged.

The County Council—a seven-member group with six Republicans and one Democrat—didn’t think it would be wise to appear to micromanage the Library Board. The strategy was to replace the Board. Step one was to get rid of the three At-Large positions. Another Board member was ejected because district lines had been redrawn, and she was now outside the District she had represented. The Council passed a policy that meant that she would be immediately removed, rather than be allowed to complete her term. Other terms expired, and some members left early as they felt pressured to go. By this year, the Library Board reflected the County Council’s makup: six conservatives and one progressive. And it was now dominated by political appointees with an agenda, rather then people dedicted to the full range of library functions.

And the issue that started it all—the proposal to move LGBTQ books from the children’s section to the adult section—has been proposed and will be voted on at the Board’s August 14 meeting.

Opposition arose. We covered some of it across several episodes of YCDP TV back in 2023. A group called Support YCL was formed, and members attended Library Board and committee meetings, making public comments, recording the meetings on video, and submitting FOIA requests for emails and official documents. Conservative groups like Moms for Liberty were also attending, and Library Board meetings—which had never had a public audience—bacame a battleground. The Board looked for ways to muzzle the opponent’s voices.

In this episode, three Support YCL members—Lacey, Laura and Stephanie—join host Gary Pearce to review the history, discuss where things stand today, and talk about what they’d like to see in the future.

And we take a look at a book (not in the library at this time) aimed at indoctrinating young kids into thinking “the right way”.

TIMECODE INDEX to the YouTube Video BELOW ⌚

It was another YCDP Weekend, with the Forward Together party on Friday (June 27) and another every-other-Saturday protest along Dave Lyle in Rock Hill on Saturday.

We lead off with Rock Hill, and some longer interviews with some of the activists, Savanna, Will and Anna.

Then backwards in time (a few hours) to the YCDP Forward Together event, where we hear from three candidates who were present. US Senate Candidate Dr. Annie Andrews leads off, then two candidates (of four announced so far) competing for the Democratic nomination for US House from SC 5 (Ralph Norman's seat). First is Andrew Clough, who announced very recently, and then Alex Harper, who's been in the race for a while.

The evening wraps up with YCDP Chair Nikita Jackson, who ushered everyone inside before thunderstorms rolled in.

DETAILED INDEX:

00:00 INTRO, Rock Hill Protest

00:55 People and Signs along Dave Lyle Blvd montage

01:58 Extended interview with protester/activists Savanna and Will. We get a little deeper into what motivates some of the people who are out on Dave Lyle every other week.

14:44Anna Johnson reveals herself as our Costumed Crusader. First it was the Easter Bunny. Then an American Eagle. On the big No Kings day two weeks ago, she appeared as George Washington. And this week she braved potential heat stroke in an inflatable (but not air conditioned) chicken costume. Behind (or inside) all that performance is an articulate, informed activist, also willing to do a bit of the Chicken Dance on camera.

19:15 We always talk with Brian Ballard, spokesman for York County Rising, the main sponsor of the bi-weekly ('every other week' version) protest on Dave Lyle Blvd in Rock Hill. Brian told us that - as of now - there are NO planned protest events in Rock Hill for July 4. There probably will be some, somewhere nearby, so do some digging.

20:51 The FORWARD TOGETHER event begins. Host Hope Matthews thanks the major sponsors/doners for the event.

Three candidates for Democratic Nominations for office in the 2026 Primary spoke at the event. Note that the YCDP does NOT endorse candidatesfor the Primary, and appearance at a YCDP event does not imply endorcement, but we provide the opportunity for all to reach our party members. Also note that the official filing period to be on the ballot doesn't even open until April 2026, so we may well see more candidates announce their intention to run.

Find out more about candidates on our website Meet the Candidates page

22:11 First was Dr. Annie Andrews. She is running for US Senate, challenging Lindsay Graham (assuming he runs again). Three other candidates (so far) have announced their run for the Democratic nomination for the Senate seat, but were not at the event. They are: Catherine Fleming Bruce, Kyle Freeman, and Lee Johnson. See our Meet the Candidates page for links to those candidates.

Next are the two current candidates for the Democratic nomination for US House from SC District 5, which includes all of York County. This is Ralph Norman's seat, though Norman has not declared his candidacy yet and is considered to be a possible contender for Governor. Stay tuned.

28:29 Andrew Clough recently announced his bid for the nomination for US House from SC5. He introduces himself to the audience. This is his first appearance before a Democratic group (that we know about).

30:41 Alex Harper is also running for the US House seat for SC5. He announced his candidacy at the YCDP Convention.

35:08 YCDP Chair Nikita Jackson wraps things up just before thunderstorms chase the party indoors.

38:32YCDP TV 📺Producer Gary Pearce wraps up the episode.

NOTE: this is the audio track from our YouTube video. There are lots of interviews and voices, but there are some visual elements that aren’t described. Not much, but drop by YouTube if you miss it.

Rock Hill, York and Lancaster Counties turned out in force for the June 14 Nationwide No Kings Protest. Crowd estimates approached 2000, by far the largest turnout for the every-other-Saturday event along Dave Lyle Blvd, sponsored by York County Rising, along with several other progressive groups.

Of course the YCDP-TV media empire mobile production unit (a camera and wireless mic) were there to document the event, so meet some of your friends and neighbors – and a Candidate for Congress – who were more than eager to share their thoughts and reactions to what’s been going on in Washington and around the country.

Note that at this event there was no trouble – it was entirely peaceful (if a little noisy… ok, a lot noisy 📯). Early on, you’ll see a few pickups with Trump flags circle the parking lot at the edge of the protest (they disappeared before the 2 pm start time), and for a while a clump of men stood at the edge of the event watching, though they didn’t have any signs, hats or identifying clothing, and they didn’t make any noise. Mostly they were ignored.

Keep in mind that this event continues, every other Saturday until… from 2-4 pm.

Saturday, May 31, 2025, was a busy day for the YCDP TV Media Empire. In the morning, our Columbia bureau (Gary) covered the South Carolina Democratic Party annual Convention. We're not showing you the whole thing*, but we are including all of the (short) speeches by candidates you'll see on your York County Primary ballot in June, 2026: Senate (4), Governor (1), Superintendent of Education (1) and US House from SC 5 (1). (The Primary is a year away, so we may well see more candidates for any of those offices.)

We also meet a couple of popular South Carolina Public Radio journalists.

Minnesota Governor and 2024 Vice Presidental candidate Tim Walz was the keynote speaker, and while he came first at the convention due to his busy schedule, we're putting his 45 minute speech at the end of this video.

In the afternoon, our Rock Hill Bureau (also Gary) dropped in on the bi-weekly protest in Rock Hill. We meet more of your York County neighbors with their signs, and talk to the world-famous EASTER BUNNY, this time disguised as an American Eagle.

Episode-wise, we're presenting the Rock Hill protest first because it's fairly short, then the SCDP Convention, and again we put Tim Walz's longer speech at the end (the way the grocery store puts the milk at the back of the store).

*Almost the whole convention was streamed live by Fox5 Television in Washington DC. They got started late, during Tim Walz's keynote, but he was the first speaker (and we have all of it in this episode), and then they hang in there until the end - all the 'business' of the convention and speeches from candidates who won't be on a York County Primary ballot. The YouTube link is: https://www.youtube.com/live/7UvEvJ5htHw?si=jmo_hf2OLl67Gc-4

Lee Johnson visited the YCDP Dessert Before Dinner event on May 2, and corralled our YCDP TV camera crew to make a pre-announcement of his intent to run for the Democratic Nomination for US Senate from South Carolina.

That seat is currently held by Republican Lindsey Graham, who you can find on Fox News more easily than you can find him anywhere in the state he is supposed to represent.

This election happens in 2026. The Primary will be in June, and the Election is in November, as usual. Several other candidates from various parties have already announced their candidacy, but Lee was the one who showed up at the YCDP event.

Your YCDP TV Media Empire Mobile Production Unit (Gary and his video camera) showed up at three events surrounding May Day this year.

On Wednesday, April 30, the Lancaster County Democratic Party held an Empty Chair Town Hall at the Indianland High School auditorium. A couple dozen people addeessed a cardboard cutout of the otherwise absent Ralph Norman, who represents pretty much only the hard-right Republicans in the South Caroina 5th Congressional District. We're presenting just a few seconds of most of the speakers, but you'll get a good idea of the tone of the event.

Next, it's our Dessert Before Dinner event at YCDP Headquarters on Friday, May 2. You'll get a short tour of our modest HQ office, meet Lee Johnson, who is about to announce his canddidacy for US Sendate (we have a separate video of his announcement, here on the YCDP TV YouTube channel), and State Representative Jermaine Johnson, visiting from the 52nd State House District.

A heavy downpour failed to dampen the spirits of the YCDP supporters who showed up to enjoy the goodies. You, OTOH, won't gain an ounce, unless the shots of the yummy cakes and cookies drive you to the kitchen.

And the weekend wrapped up with the bi-weekly protest along Dave Lyle Blvd in Rock Hill. This event happens every other Saturday at 2 pm, coordinated by York County Rising in cooperation with other progressive groups. You will hear from several of your progressive friends and neighbors who also braved some rain – which ended just as things were getting started – to show the world that we're not going to take what Columbia and Washington are trying to dish out. They encourage you to join them! Enthusiastically!

Two more events to keep in mind (among many, we know): a York County Empty Chair Town Hall on Friday, May 16. And another Rock Hill No Kings protest to join other nationwide events on Saturday, June 14. This one falls on the regular bi-weekly schedule for York County Rising, but it's extra-special because it’s the President's birthday 🎂, and he plans a big, North Korea-style military parade in his own honor. So natiionwide, progressive groups want local and network TV to have a split-screen opportunity. In Rock Hill, it's 2 pm as usual along Dave Lyle Blvd.

YCDP Chair Nikita Jackson joins Gary to talk about the YCDP fundraiser Dessert Before Dinner starting at 5 pm Friday afternoon, May 2, at our HQ office, 858 Cherry Rd in Rock Hill. Details and ticket purchase here.

They also talk about the protests that continue across the country and right here in York County. Protests have been sponsored by Indivisible, York County Rising, 50501, and MoveOn. They will continue, with York County Rising scheduling one every other Saturday along Dave Lyle Blvd (at White St) in Rock Hill at 2 pm. The next few are May 3, 17 and 31. So have dessert 🍰 with us on Friday, and walk it off on Saturday🚶🏽‍♀️

And if you missed it somehow, the YCDP TV Production Unit was out at the protests on April 5 (Hands Off) and 19 (No Kings), and you can review the events on our YouTube shows and podcasts.

But wait, there’s more. Our neighbors in Lancaster County have scheduled an Empty Seat Town Hall for SC Congressional District 5 at 7 pm on Wednesday, April 30 at Indian Land High School, 6100 Charlotte Hwy, Lancaster, SC 29720. They have invited our District 5 Rep Ralph Norman – he has not responded. Maybe he will show up?

So much to do… so many Democrats!

Once again, York County was part of thousands of protests nationwide on April 19, this time with the theme No Kings. The Rock Hill event was coordinated by the fairly new progressive group York County Rising, in cooperation with 50501, Move On, and many other organizations.

And once again, YCDP TV was there to document the action. We have an extended interview with Brian from York County Rising to learn what this new group is all about. He appears for a minute at the top of the program, and much more toward the end.

They are planning on bi-weekly protests along Dave Lyle Blvd in Rock Hill, so the next one is scheduled for May 3. Note that advance notice of all events can be hard to come by, especially if you rely on Facebook, because Facebook doesn’t show you everything from your groups and friends. You have to do some digging. York County Rising does have a calendar with information on their and other activities, with the goal of surging progressive turnout at these events.

Saturday, April 5, 2025 saw Hands Off protests in cities and towns nationwide, including Rock Hill in York County. Not the biggest, probably not the smallest… several hundred people lined Main Street near Fountain Park, and Dave Lyle Blvd to let the world know that we don’t like what’s happeining in Washington and Columbia.

More are planned, nearly every week. You’ll probably see a notice on the YCDP Facebook Group (a private group).

The York County Democratic Party met for our annual Convention on March 15, 2025 in Newport, SC. We elected officers for the next two years. See the Convention Page for details.