(North Charleston) Dec. 16, 2003 - The Reverend Jesse Jackson led hundreds of people, carrying signs and shouting for justice through the streets of North Charleston on Tuesday.
     
The march was in response to a drug sweep at Stratford High School in which police with drawn guns ordered students to the floor. Two of the students from Stratford addressed a rally in front of
North Charleston City Hall.

No drugs were found and no students were arrested during the November 5th Stratford raid.

The local chapter of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, a national civil rights organization, organized the march. Jackson is president of Rainbow PUSH.

Janice Mathis is with the organization and says Goose Creek Police were wrong to search students for drugs with guns drawn, "We think that there was excessive use of force. We think that the Constitution was violated. We think the search and seizure was unreasonable."

Travis Larimer walked with a sign that called police terrorists, "When someone does something in our country and in a position of authority and it's an act of terror, they terrorize those children, that's terrorism."

Jackson says incidents like the school drug sweep dominate the image of the New South and keep the South in the gutter. Jackson says people in the region should be fighting together for a fair trade, comprehensive health care and raising the minimum wage for working people.

Jackson says it is time for a new South Carolina, one committed to finding an economic common ground for all its citizens. Jackson says the struggle will continue and there will be more and more marches until there is fairness in the land.

The state attorney general's office continues to review the case to see if any charges should be filed. WIS News 10 called the Goose Creek mayor's office on Tuesday. The mayor, speaking on behalf of the police department, said he had no comment on the rally or the investigation.

Jackson is also protesting the shooting death of a man by North Charleston police last month. Asberry Wilder of North Charleston was shot after he stabbed an officer following a shoplifting incident. The officer, who was wearing a protective vest, was not hurt.

The South Carolina NAACP held a town hall meeting Monday night at Westview Primary School in Goose Creek to let people talk about the raid.

A second federal lawsuit was filed as a result of the drug sweep. The American Civil Liberties Union sued Monday on behalf of 20 students.

The lawsuit alleges the November 5th raid at Stratford High School violated the students' constitutional protection against unlawful search and seizure. The suit names as defendants the city of Goose Creek, the police chief, a supervisory officer and 15 unidentified officers. It also names the Berkeley County School Board and the school principal.

Antonio Ponvert of the ACLU says, "Officers concealed themselves in closets, stairwells, and offices at the school. And, as the school's main hallway filled with students the officers rushed out with guns drawn yelling, 'Put your hands on your head! Get down!' The officers grabbed and pushed students to the ground. Officers put plastic restraining devices on the students wrists. The police and school officials then used a large and aggressive police dog and they searched the students' wallets, pockets book bags and other possessions."

Earlier this month, a similar suit was brought on behalf of 18 other students. Surveillance cameras showed students on the floor while officers with guns drawn and a drug dog checked about 100 students.

Reported by Jennifer Miskewicz
Updated 6:19pm by BrettWitt with AP