John Sims, a Black artist-in-residence at 701 Center for Contemporary Arts in Columbia, South Carolina, was awakened by police with guns drawn on Monday morning, May 17. According to WLTX, officers believed he was an intruder and proceeded to handcuff and detain him in his gallery apartment.
The South Carolina gallery allowed Sims and similar artists to work and sleep in a provided apartment nearby, WLTX reported. Noticing the apartment building’s door slightly open at around 2 AM, police entered with their eyes set on an intruder. Instead, they found Sims, who was shaken out of his sleep by the yells from the Columbia police.
Assuming the worst, Sims told WLTX about the incident, “I saw lights in the window. I’m thinking they’re coming from outside. I’m thinking they’re protesters, confederate, neo-Nazi’s, white supremacists coming in the space, responding to my work, coming to my show.”
Columbia artist speaks out after police thought he was an intruder in an art gallery https://t.co/pMuRBFAdJM
— News 19 WLTX (@WLTX) May 22, 2021
Known for his political artwork, Sims often criticized Confederate flag symbolism, lynching and other examples of racial terrorism in America’s past.
The Black artist showed himself to the South Carolina police officers and asked what was going on. But instead of offering Sims an explanation, they continued to approach him with their guns drawn, WLTX reported.
Police then handcuffed and interrogated him about where he lived. After Sims explained his status as an artist-in-residence at the nearby South Carolina art gallery, he was finally let go. Although the situation was frightening, Sims told WLTX that he’s happy things didn’t turn out worse.
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“I could’ve been shot. I could’ve been killed if I moved the wrong way if I have a medical condition, or I’ve been sleeping, I was startled,” he said. “We see countless individuals who don’t survive. I am happy to still be alive.”
Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook said in a statement that after reviewing the incident, he believed the involved officers “conducted themselves professionally and within policy.”
According to the Free Times, Sims plans on writing an open letter to the Columbia Police Department, hoping it will be a “teachable moment” for them moving forward.
