Joining the estimated 10,000 – 15,000 marchers crossing the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge in Charleston, S.C. on Sunday night was only one participant with 8.12 million twitter followers: Stephen Colbert. Stephen was there to be a link in the “Unity Chain” march across the bridge, meant to show a sign of solidarity of Charlestonians in his beloved, yet grief-stricken city.
Peace and Love and Unity in the Holy City pic.twitter.com/4XWHW866BH
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) June 22, 2015
Stephen was accompanied by his sister, former congressional candidate Elizabeth Colbert Busch, as well his wife Evie Colbert.
Courtesy Chive On Charleston Facebook Page | Photo credit Gerald Mindel
After the jump, find out why this show of support is really so significant.
Ravenel Bridge Charleston Strong! Unity & LOVE! @StephenAtHome @Pataltschul @ShepRose @KCooperRayCHS @cameraneubanks pic.twitter.com/dRAJwhoOns
— Aaron Comstock (@connick21) June 22, 2015
Home is where they love you, thanks for walking Stephen @HolyCitySinner @Charlestonion @StephenAtHome @ChiveOnCHS pic.twitter.com/ouCs7pXa0h
— Charleston Choo (@ChooCaboose) June 22, 2015
In general, reaction to Stephen’s presence at the Unity Chain was one of surprise but also gratitude. A lot of “thank you” tweets peppering the twitter feed, with many noting that it was thoughtful and kind of Stephen to make a special effort to be in Charleston and mingle among the crowds to pay tribute and show support.
However, if you are familiar with Stephen’s personal history, you would know that Stephen’s family has a legacy of supporting all things Charleston, all things unity, and all things South Carolina. From Lisa Rogak’s Colbert biography, And Nothing But the Truthiness, I recently discovered this gem of a passage:
[During the 1969 MUSC hospital strike], none of the other hospital administrators were reaching out to Charleston’s African-American community…. [Dr.] Colbert was going into the local African Methodist Episcopal churches to speak to the people. “He told me what a wonderful experience it was to speak in these churches because they talked back to you, ” said Jay Colbert. “The feedback from the audience was just wonderful. He said if you ever get a chance to give a speech in an AME church, take it, because he thought it was just terrific. He just loved it.”
p. 35, And Nothing But the Truthiness: The Rise (and Further Rise) of Stephen Colbert
Thinking of how the tragedy took place in an AME church, it seems to me to be particularly poignant that Stephen and his sister Elizabeth were walking hand-in-hand to show support for a place they call home and truly love. Not only is Stephen using his celebrity to bring about more notoriety to the cause, he is also paying tribute to and continuing the legacy his Dad, (and his Mom, who also marched for civil rights.) Although his presence at the Unity Chain confirms that he is not just a funny man, but a concerned citizen, I got a better take-home message: he is also a good son.
Stephen Colbert Is #CharlestonStrong
Joining the estimated 10,000 – 15,000 marchers crossing the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge in Charleston, S.C. on Sunday night was only one participant with 8.12 million twitter followers: Stephen Colbert. Stephen was there to be a link in the “Unity Chain” march across the bridge, meant to show a sign of solidarity of Charlestonians in his beloved, yet grief-stricken city.
Stephen was accompanied by his sister, former congressional candidate Elizabeth Colbert Busch, as well his wife Evie Colbert.
Courtesy Chive On Charleston Facebook Page | Photo credit Gerald Mindel
After the jump, find out why this show of support is really so significant.
In general, reaction to Stephen’s presence at the Unity Chain was one of surprise but also gratitude. A lot of “thank you” tweets peppering the twitter feed, with many noting that it was thoughtful and kind of Stephen to make a special effort to be in Charleston and mingle among the crowds to pay tribute and show support.
However, if you are familiar with Stephen’s personal history, you would know that Stephen’s family has a legacy of supporting all things Charleston, all things unity, and all things South Carolina. From Lisa Rogak’s Colbert biography, And Nothing But the Truthiness, I recently discovered this gem of a passage:
Thinking of how the tragedy took place in an AME church, it seems to me to be particularly poignant that Stephen and his sister Elizabeth were walking hand-in-hand to show support for a place they call home and truly love. Not only is Stephen using his celebrity to bring about more notoriety to the cause, he is also paying tribute to and continuing the legacy his Dad, (and his Mom, who also marched for civil rights.) Although his presence at the Unity Chain confirms that he is not just a funny man, but a concerned citizen, I got a better take-home message: he is also a good son.