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Content warning: This email reflects on the events at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, 2015. If this is too much to read, we understand. Take care of yourself and skip the rest of this email. Here are some mental health resources that you may find helpful.
John, Nine years ago today, a gunman walked into the historically Black church Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Despite being a total stranger, the parishioners invited him to join their Bible study. When they bent their heads to pray, he opened fire, killing nine people, injuring one, and forever altering the entire community. The open arms and kindness of these worshipers were taken advantage of in a heinous act of terror and hate. Racism runs deep within this country, and this shooting is only one example of how Black liberation and gun violence prevention are intimately connected. Hate crimes like this happen due to a national climate of racism, bigotry, and anti-blackness. They become deadly because of systemic failures from loose gun laws. More people are killed by extremists using firearms than any other weapon, and despite declining rates of violence overall, hate crimes have continued to increase. Of the hate crimes reported between 2020 and 2022, over half targeted Black people. To stop these deadly acts of racism, we must continue to make gun safety legislation a priority. In honor of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church community and all those taken nine years ago today, we will continue advocating for change until all people, regardless of race or religion, can live freely without the fear of gun violence. In solidarity, March For Our Lives HQ Today and every day we honor the lives lost at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on June 17, 2015.
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