Asheville Pastor Has Family Ties in Charleston, SC Shooting

ASHEVILLE, NC — As people across the nation are still processing the horrendous acts of racial violence in Charleston, South Carolina, more than 350 people filled the sanctuary of St. James AME Church of Asheville, in support and solidarity of the bereaving families of Charleston, South Carolina, and their native son Reverend LaPrince Edwards.

Edwards is the pastor of St. James AME Church in Asheville, and grew up in Charleston, SC as a member of the historic (Mother) Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, with relatives and friends who were victims in this senseless death and mayhem.

As people crowed the sanctuary of St. James AME Church, Reverend Edwards paused as he looked around and stated, “I’m so moved by the love that is shown by this community. The love I see here moves my heart. There are still some good people in the world.”

As Edwards read the names of those people killed at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church: state Sen. Clementa Pinckney, 41, the pastor of the church; Cynthia Hurd, 54; Tywanza Sanders, 26; Sharonda Singleton, 45; Myra Thompson, 59; Ethel Lance, 70; Susie Jackson, 87; the Rev. Daniel Simmons Sr., 74; and DePayne Doctor, 49. Edwards mentioned that racism is still alive, and challenged those in attendance to put differences aside and work together to overcome hate.

Edwards spoke about the historic “Mother” Emanuel AME Church, which was burned by white supremacists in the early 1800s, and the resiliency of its congregation. Members of the church had to meet in secret for decades until the close of the Civil War.

Police arrested 21-year-old Dylann Roof in Shelby, North Carolina, on Thursday and flew him back to South Carolina where he was charged in the first round of hearing.

Wearing a striped inmate jumpsuit, the 21-year-old Dylann Roof heard words of forgiveness from families of some of the nine people he’s accused of killing.
His response: A blank expression, as he stood motionless while listening to the anguished words of relatives of victims he gunned down Wednesday night, June 17, 2015, at a Bible study at the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Locally, there will be other services held in memory and solidarity of the nine people who lost their lives. A service will be held at the WNC Baptist Fellowship Church at 240 Haywood St. in downtown Asheville at 6 p.m., Sunday, June 21, 2015, in show of solidarity.

The N.C. Council of Churches issued the following statement on behalf of the Charleston shootings:

“With people across the world, the North Carolina Council of Churches grieves with the congregation of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC. This kind of violence against people of faith in other parts of the world has recently and rightfully been called terrorism. Indeed, the people of Emanuel AME have experienced a terrorist act.

Fear and violence invaded their space of grace and hospitality while they were together for the faith filled purpose of prayer and worship. As they welcomed a stranger into their midst, an act of faith commanded by the very scriptures and principles, they gathered to study; however their gesture of hospitality was met by hatred.

“Whether this act comes to be labeled a hate crime or a terrorist act, we stand with the people of Emanuel, and with people of faith across the world who refuse to let fear rule our lives and violence dictate our response. We call on people of faith across our constituency to name the righteous anger all of us feel in the wake of this crime. Once again easy access to guns is a vehicle for senseless death, compounded on this occasion by the heartbreak of racial targeting.

We lift the congregation of Emanuel and the people of Charleston, SC, in their worship services this weekend. We pray especially for the families of each church member killed, including the family of Clementa Pinckney, pastor of Emanuel AME. Each of their lives is another testimony to the hard and crucial work we still face as a nation. May God continue to embolden each of us to continue marching for justice, peace, and the well-being of all.”

NAACP Statement on the Arrest of Dylann Roof

BALTIMORE, MD – Dylann Storm Roof, the man accused of shooting and killing nine people inside Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., has been arrested. Subsequently, the NAACP has released the following statement:

From Cornell William Brooks, NAACP President and CEO:

“We are as thankful for the apprehension of the alleged Charleston shooter as we are horrified by the blood curdling heinousness of this act.  We appreciate the swift work of federal, state, and local authorities in apprehending the alleged shooter. We commend, encourage, and will continue to support the ongoing investigation and prosecution of the person responsible for the deaths of nine students of scripture in a beloved sanctuary.

The NAACP family continues to pray for the family of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, the late pastor, the Reverend Clementa Pinckney, and those who lost their lives in the Bible study.  As we mourn their senseless deaths, we remain resolved to continue facing evil and fighting for justice in every corner of America.

Our century-old, ongoing work of confronting violence with nonviolence, hate with love, and racism with the highest ideas of our democracy yet continues.  The mayor, police chief, and witnesses describe this shooting as a hate crime. The coward who murdered nine parishioners in a church set a new and depraved standard of inhumanity.

We, as Americans, by our resolve, determination, and commitment, through our faith, will set an infinitely higher standard of humanity.”