Charleston to Host Memorial Events for Charleston Church Shooting Victims and Survivors
On Monday, nine years will have passed since the tragic shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. The event took place during a bible study at the historic downtown church on the night of June 17, 2015. A man, who was welcomed to attend the service, unexpectedly pulled out a gun and shot nine innocent people.
Remembering the victims
Ten people were in attendance that fateful night. Those unfortunate to be in the room during the incident including the church’s pastor at the time and S.C. Senator Reverend Clementa C. Pinckney, Cynthia Graham Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lee Lance, DePayne Middleton-Doctor, Tywanza Sanders, Rev. Daniel Simmons, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, and Myra Thompson sadly lost their lives.
Honoring the survivors
Three individuals miraculously survived the horrific shooting. These were Tywanza Sanders’s mother, Felecia Sanders, her granddaughter Ka’mya Manigault, and Polly Sheppard. Furthermore, Rev. Pinckney’s wife, Jennifer Pinckney, and their then six-year-old daughter, Malana, were present in another room across the hall when the shooting occurred. They too survived.
Memorial Events
Plans have been unveiled for a memorial scheduled to take place inside the Emanuel AME Church’s sanctuary, followed by a balloon release outside. As a special tribute, the church’s chimes will ring in memory of the victims. Meanwhile, Charleston residents have been encouraged to perform random acts of kindness on Friday in honor of the victims.
Building a lasting legacy
The tragic event was a grim reminder of the destructive impact of violence. However, the heart of the Charleston community has proved resilient. By honoring the memory of the victims and survivors through memorial events and acts of kindness, the city underscores its commitment to uphold the values of unity, mutual respect, and peace in the face of adversity.
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