Several grassroots organizations are planning to gather at the SC Statehouse, at 10 a.m., Tuesday, to tell lawmakers that it is time to end COVID restrictions and open up the state, fully.

The demonstrators do not want the governor to make any additional Executive Orders adding COVID 19 prohibitions. They also want mask mandates to end immediately.

West Columbia Real Estate professional Melissa Sprouse Browne said she has been promoting the rally and she will be there.

Sprouse Browne is the founder of the American Freedom Now Group (link to American Freedom Now Group.)

Sprouse Browne said when we are forced to wear a mask, our individual and Constitutional rights are being taken. She also said restrictions and prohibitions in the name of COVID have gone too far.

Since forming the American Freedom Now Group, Sprouse Browne has added about 300 followers.

Last week S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster said too many of the state’s school districts are not providing a 5-day in-person option to parents. Only 19 school districts began the school year with their classrooms open five days a week. That’s about one-fourth of the state’s school districts.

The governor said if he had the power to mandate a 5-day, in-person option he would do so.

“If a parent wants to send their children back to school, or if they want to keep the child at home, they should have the choice,” McMaster said.”They shouldn’t have to choose between their child or their job.”

And McMaster is not the only one who feels that way. Parents of Lexington-Richland School District 5 are holding a Parents March on Monday.

The group said citizens of the community will rally at the school board to get children back in school five days a week, in-person. The rally will be at 5:30 p.m. at the District 5 Board meeting. The Board meeting is at Irmo High School.