Summer 2015 The Mid-South GOSPEL Tribune Page 8 Opinions For the Record: Statements on Emanuel Church massacre

Editor’s Note: Below are when that violence takes place at at the press conference announc- weekly Bible study welcomed this loss. Episcopal Church in Charleston, statements on the June 17, a house of worship for any reli- ing that State Legislature, just a into their group the young man This shooting was a senseless South Carolina. Among the vic- 2015 massacre of nine church gion, it is particularly abhorrent. couple of weeks ago with Rev. who would later turn his gun on act of hate and it has no place in tims was Reverend Clementa members, including Rev. Black churches have been fre- Rivers. them in a brutal act of racial our society. Pinckney, who also served as a Clementa Pinckney of quent targets, as with the repre- “When I was there in April, he hatred. Throughout its long history, the South Carolina State Senator. Emanuel A.M.E. Church in hensible 1963 bombing of the joined a prayer vigil that we did "Our hearts go out to the fami- Emanuel AME Church has faced Reverend Pinckney was a mem- Charles, South Carolina. 16th Street Baptist Church in for Walker Scott, who was killed lies and friends of the victims many tragedies but has always ber of People For the American Birmingham and the wave of by police there in Charleston, and to the entire community. We overcome. I know that the Way Foundation's Young *** church arsons that swept and it was videotaped. We are at AFGE headquarters will be Emanuel AME Church will con- Elected Officials (YEO) through the South in the 1990s. calling for a national day of gathering together this afternoon tinue to be a leading voice in the Network as well as its African The Reconciled Church on Mother Emanuel, as it’s known, prayer for the families involved. for a moment of reflection and community for justice and American Ministers Leadership the South Carolina holds a significant place in the And we’re asking that people all contemplation, and we encour- peace. Council (AAMLC). Murders history of our nation. Founded over the country of all races and age other employers to allow As a nation, we stand ready to "On behalf of everyone at A Statement from Bishop by free Blacks and slaves, it is religions, pause and pray for their workers to do the same. assist our brothers and sisters in People For the American Way Harry Jackson, Bishop the oldest AME church in the healing of this family. "Our thoughts and prayers also Charleston as they grieve and Foundation, I want to convey T.D. Jakes and James South, the oldest Black congre- “Rev. Pinckney was a father of go out to the law enforcement rebuild. You remain in our my deepest sympathy to the Robison gation south of Baltimore, and two children and married. There officers who worked diligently thoughts and prayers.” families and community of has been active throughout its are other families involved. If in to bring the suspected gunman Reverend Pinckney and the TheReconciledChurch.org existence in the fight to secure fact the right man has been to justice. Congresswoman Lee is a mem- other victims of this crime," said civil and human rights. caught, if in fact we’re now "Today is a sad day for all ber of the Appropriations and PFAW Foundation President "Our hearts bleed for our black We commend Attorney General dealing with just a lone gunman, Americans, but our hope is that Budget Committees, the Steering Michael Keegan. "To see our brothers and sisters slain in a Loretta Lynch and the Justice we must deal with the grief and we as a nation can come togeth- and Policy Committee, is a friend and colleague struck church so long in the struggle Department’s Civil Rights the mourning and the healing of er in our grief and strengthen the Senior Democratic Whip, for- down in a senseless hate crime is for liberty. Now we call on every Division for opening up a hate the families. And we must go human bonds that tie us all mer chair of the Congressional as heartbreaking as it is unjust. Christian congregation across crime investigation into this forward and unite the communi- together." Black Caucus and co-chair of The People For family is richer the U.S. to prove that love has attack, and city, state and federal ties against this kind of hatred. The American Federation of the Progressive Caucus. She for having known and collabo- no color. Within the greater law enforcement for working “It is clear that this nation has Government Employees serves as chair of the Whip’s rated with Reverend Pinckney. Church body—and in its body of together to capture the suspected to deal with hate, and has to deal (AFGE) is the largest federal Task Force on Poverty and In the months and years to come, influence—is every power to gunman. Their efforts are impor- with race, and to continue to cas- employee union, representing Opportunity. we will continue our shared wage peace. This is our opportu- tant for securing justice as we tigate and demonize those who 670,000 workers in the federal work against bigotry and racism nity to exemplify a reconciled continue to mourn for the vic- continue to raise the issue is not government and the government *** and towards a more just America church." tims and support their communi- going to solve the problem. We, of the District of Columbia . Statement by Rev. Al in his memory. He will be --Harry Jackson, T.D. Jakes and ty.” every other day now, are hearing *** Sharpton deeply missed." James Robison founded and Wade Henderson is president different narratives: this by far, NEW YORK – Rev. Al "State Senator Clementa head The Reconciled Church, a and CEO of The Leadership the worst. Earlier this week, a ACLU of South Carolina Sharpton, President of National Pinckney was the kind of leader national and nondenominational Conference on Civil and Human situation in Spokane about race Statement on Charleston Action Network (NAN), that America needs and the kind Christian movement in response Rights, a coalition charged by – a woman saying she wasn’t Church Shooting released the following statement of colleague and collaborator to race-related violence and its diverse membership of more white, but black. Race is still an on the shooting death of nine that any elected official would deaths. than 200 national organizations issue in this country. Hate is an CHARLESTON – Victoria people at a historic black church wish for," said Andrew Gillum, to promote and protect the rights even more deadly issue. We Middleton, executive director of in Charleston, South Carolina: Director of PFAW Foundation's *** of all persons in the United need to start coming to terms the American Civil Liberties “I am shocked and outraged Young Elected Officials Bishop Harry Jackson on States. The Leadership with it. Union of South Carolina, had about the killing of nine inno- Network. "In my years working South Carolina Murders Conference works toward an “It was our intention to this comment in reaction to the cent people at Emanuel AME with the YEO Network, I've TheReconciledChurch.org America as good as its ideals. announce a reward, but since killing of nine people last Church in Charleston, South been blessed to have known and For more information on The he’s [the suspect has] been cap- evening at Emanuel African Carolina. What has our society worked with many extraordinary “For every optimist who Leadership Conference, visit tured, the National Action Methodist Episcopal Church: come to when people in a prayer leaders, and none were more believed U.S. race problems www.civilrights.org. Network will make arrange- "The ACLU of South Carolina meeting in the sacred halls of a committed to the cause of justice would fade as Millennials come ments to distribute that to the expresses its profound condo- church can be shot in what is and equality than Clementa. I into their own, here’s the punch *** families as need be; whatever lences to the victims' families in deemed s possible hate crime? know I speak for every member in the gut. The only long-term Rev. Al Sharpton’s Statement our financial commitment would the wake of this senseless “The Pastor of the church, of the YEO Network when I say solution will be the one Rev. calling for National Day of be. We will be coordinating a tragedy. Events like this are fur- Reverend Clementa Pinckney, that our thoughts and prayers are Pinckney preached with his life: Prayer in wake of Emanuel national day of prayer and heal- ther evidence that we need to be worked closely with our with his family and the people of to reject retaliation (which shooting ing, and we will be advised by fighting for racial equality in our National Action Network Emanuel AME Church." solves nothing), to refuse to hate those in Charleston on how we daily lives. Although the Chapter leader and our Vice "On behalf of all the members of back. The job for police, busi- NEW YORK - This morning, in can be helpful beyond that. motives are unclear at this point, President of Religious Affairs, the African American Ministers nesses, blacks, whites and local the wake of the tragic shooting Thank you.” this attack against Black people Rev. Nelson Rivers. It is chilling Leadership Council and affiliate leaders now is to begin to create deaths of nine people at the his- in an institution that has such to me that just over two months People For the American Way's the solidarity that can rebuild toric Emanuel AME Church in *** historical and cultural impor- ago while I was in North African American Ministers In trust and ultimately restore Charleston, South Carolina, Leaders of Nation's Largest tance detracts from years of Charleston over the police Action, I want to extend our hope.” Rev. Al Sharpton, president and Federal Employee Union healing undertaken by our com- shooting of Walter Scott, I’m prayers for our brother, founder of the National Action React to Charleston Shooting munities. Senator Clementa reminded that Rev. Pinckney Reverend Clementa Pinckney, to --Bishop Harry Jackson founded Network, announced his call to AFGE leaders express pro- Pinckney stood for civil liber- was among the clergy who stood his family, the families of others TRC--The Reconciled Church-- coordinate a national day of found grief, condolences for ties, and we mourn his loss with with me at that occasion and who were also killed and to all with BIshop T.D. Jakes and prayer and healing. At a press everyone affected by church the other victims." now he has fallen victim to the members of Emanuel James Robison--a national and conference at the NAN shooting *** senseless violence. African Methodist Episcopal nondenominational movement Headquarters, Rev. Sharpton Congresswoman Lee Church," said Rev. Terry of Christian leaders bringing delivered the following remarks: WASHINGTON, June 18, 2015 Responds to Emanuel “We must do what we can to Alexander of Monumental practical solutions to seemingly "We have spoken with the /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AME Church Tragedy apprehend the killer and we Missionary Baptist Church in intractable problems associated National Action Network Chair Leaders from the largest union Washington, D.C. – must support the families Florence, a South Carolina state with race. in Charleston, Elder Johnson, as representing federal and D.C. Congresswoman Barbara Lee involved in this tragedy. representative and an active well as with Reverend Nelson government employees today released this statement follow- Demagoguery, increasing ten- member of PFAW Foundation's *** Rivers who heads our religious expressed their profound grief ing the tragedy at Emanuel sion, and talk of violence will AAMLC. "To have known and Statements from Wade affairs department of Pastors in for the victims of last night's African Methodist Episcopal only make a mockery of what worked alongside Reverend Henderson and the North Charleston, who’ve been deadly shooting at an historic Church in Charleston, SC: we face.” Pinckney, both in the communi- Leadership Conference on talking with the Mayor of black church in downtown “Last night, an unspeakable act ty and in the state legislature, Civil and Human Rights Charleston and officials in North Charleston, S.C. of violence claimed the lives of *** has been a great blessing in my Charleston. American Federation of nine people as they came togeth- Statement from Michael life. The scripture tells us that WASHINGTON—Wade “I also spoke a few moments Government Employees er to worship in peace. Keegan, People For the God turns our darkness into Henderson, president and CEO ago with the Bishop John Bryant National President J. David Cox My thoughts are with the vic- American Way light, and I am deeply grateful of The Leadership Conference who is the National Bishop of Sr., National Secretary- tims, their families, the congre- On Wednesday night, nine peo- for the light that Clementa on Civil and Human Rights, the AME Church; he has just Treasurer Eugene Hudson Jr., gation and the entire Charleston ple were killed by a gunman at brought into all our lives." issued the following statement arrived in Charleston. He is and National Vice President for community as they cope with Emanuel African Methodist in response to the murders of headed to the vigil of some of Women's and Fair Practices nine parishioners Wednesday the local AME Ministers. It is Augusta Y. Thomas said the night at the historic Emanuel our understanding that they have mass killing of nine churchgoers African Methodist Episcopal taken into custody, the suspect. at the Emanuel African Church in Charleston, S.C.: The question becomes, now, Methodist Episcopal Church is “We are shocked and saddened whether he acted alone, what yet another painful reminder that 3 Amigos by the horrific, coldblooded this involves, and how people a culture of violence continues murders of nine parishioners at are further protected. to permeate our nation's commu- the Emanuel African Methodist “This is by far, one of the most nities. Episcopal Church, including its horrendous acts that I’ve ever "Until we learn to treat each pastor, Rev. Clementa Pinckney, seen. To walk into a church and other with respect, compassion who was also a state senator and kill nine people in a place that and dignity, we are doomed to a brave and thoughtful commu- should be sacred is a new-low in repeat this vicious and senseless nity leader. Our thoughts and hate and atrocities in this coun- cycle of human-on-human vio- prayers are with the victims’ try. And none of us are safe if we lence that has taken its toll on families and friends, the congre- cannot go to a Church for bible too many communities already," gation, the city of Charleston, study. The Representative Rev. the AFGE leaders said in a joint and everyone who has been Pinckney who pastored this his- statement. touched by this senseless and toric church was one of those "By all accounts, the women and evil violence. that had fought for cameras on men who were gathered at Adopt The commission of a hate crime the police. He had, in fact, been Emanuel AME Church for their anywhere is disturbing, but A Manatee® Friend Email suggestions, opinions, photos, and Letters to Editor to [email protected] or [email protected]. … or Three! Travel on the Religion lane at www.blackinformationhighway.com Call 1-800-432-(JOIN) 5646 Welcome, Travelers! savethemanatee.org Photo © Patrick M. Rose