Governor, Senator, Terrorist
Benjamin Tillman served as Governor of South Carolina from 1890 to 1894, and a US Senator from 1895 until his death in 1918. He was instrumental in the founding of Clemson and Winthrop Universities.
Tillman’s public notoriety started with his involvement in the organized violence of 1876, including the Hamburg and Ellenton Massacres. In this turbulent election year, SC Democrats threatened and murdered blacks and Republicans in order to wrest control from the Reconstruction government. Tillman reflected on these para-military actions of 1876 with fondness and boasted of them throughout his life.

In 1940, the South Carolina legislature erected a statue honoring Tillman on the state house grounds.
It stands there still.
Feb. 27th Protest
TakeTillmanDown.org is holding a protest on Feburary 27, 2021.