Video shows protester’s arrest after splintering from Charleston ‘No Kings’ rally

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – One of two people arrested following Saturday’s ‘No Kings’ rally in downtown Charleston had splintered from the permitted demonstrations, according to Charleston Police Department officials.

Video circulating on social media and shared by Nuestro Estado, a Spanish news organization, appears to show the protester being detained as a group of roughly 11 people walked along King Street after the demonstrations in Hampton Park had concluded.

In the video, you can hear the group chanting and holding flags and signs before being approached by Charleston police and the department’s mounted patrol unit.

Nuestro Estado said in its Facebook post that the group was walking toward their cars and alleged the officers told them they could not demonstrate on the sidewalk.

“Officials acknowledged that the group had the right to protest and keep walking. More reinforcements were called at the same time,” the outlet reported, and noted that the individual using a megaphone was the one detained.

That person was identified by Charleston police officials as 33-year-old Matthews Colburn of Lake City. He is one of the two people who had been arrested in connection with Saturday’s protest, which counton2.com originally reported.

Colburn was charged with public disorderly conduct. He was booked into the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center and released a few hours later on a $275 bond.

The video also shows a verbal confrontation between the group and law enforcement. Lt. Anthony Gibson, a member of the agency’s public information team, explained that while officers were detaining Colburn, individuals from the group attempted to interfere.

“As trained, the mounted unit, specifically Mount Riley, arrived to create space and form a protective barrier between the officer, the arrestee, and the individuals attempting to disrupt the arrest,” explained Lt. Gibson. “This was done effectively and without further incident.”

Mount Riley was not injured during the encounter.

Despite the two arrests, police told News 2 on Saturday that the protest at Hampton Park was peaceful, and the large group dispersed when the permitted rally concluded.

There was a large presence of area law enforcement during the rally, which included the Charleston Police Department’s mounted patrols and officers walking through the crowd during the demonstration.