Correction: Two goofs: The event took place in Charleston, and in any case, the city is spelled Columbia, not Colombia. Sorry for the errors.

The NAACP in Colombia, S.C., is protesting tonight's "Secession Ball" that will mark the beginning of a series of historical events commemorating the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War.

The Secession Ball, organized by the Confederate Heritage Trust and sponsored by the Sons of Confederate Veterans, has been criticized as a celebration of treason and slavery, The State reports.

Lonnie Randolph, president of the NAACP's S.C. Conference, which plans to protest the $100-a-person ball, calls the event "nothing more than a celebration of slavery."

The gala's website notes that Glenn McConnell, president of the South Carolina Senate and an avid Civil War re-enactor, will play the role of the chairman of the 1860 convention that voted to secede from the Union.

The original "Ordinance of Secession" signed by the delegates to the convention will be on display at the commemoration, the organizers promised, in what they call the "EVENT OF A LIFETIME," in an all-caps announcement.

An excerpt:

The wonderful news is that the ORIGINAL Ordinance of Secession will be available for viewing by our guests. This is not a lithograph, but the ACTUAL document which has been protected for years in the vault and hasn't been seen in years. Those sponsoring tables will be able to have a group photograph with all Sponsors made with the ORIGINAL ORDINANCE. The cost includes the theatrical play, dinner and dancing. Do not wait until the last minute as tickets are going fast and there is limited seating.

Mark Simpson, the S.C. division commander for the Sons of Confederate Veterans, says his organization condemns slavery and respects the NAACP's right to protest, The State reports.

He notes that as many as a million soldiers and civilians died in that conflict.

"Do we celebrate that? Heavens no," he said. "War and death is never something to celebrate. But we do celebrate the courage and the integrity of 170 men who signed their signatures to the Article of Secession – the courage of men to do what they think is right."

(Posted by Doug Stanglin)

Update at 7:33 p.m. ET: More than 100 protesters marched peacefully outside the ball, The State reports. The Associated Press says NAACP members called the secessionists the equivalent of 19th-century terrorists.

(Updated by Michael Winter)