HRC, Lambda Legal And Other LGBT Advocacy Groups Respond To Charleston Church Massacre
In the aftermath of Wednesday's Charleston church massacre–in which 21-year-old Dylann Roof shot and killed nine people inside the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, near the heart of Charleston's tourist district–a number of LGBT groups have issued statements.
Human Rights Campaign President Chad Griffin:
“Today we are once again tragically reminded of the serious and widespread problem we face as a nation with violent, hate-motivated crimes – a problem which we as a nation must commit to addressing. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and the communities impacted by this horrific and senseless tragedy in Charleston seemingly targeted because of their race. As this heinous crime reverberates across the entire country, we stand united with allies and friends nationwide to end the cycle of violence motivated by hatred.”
Lambda Legal Executive Director Kevin Cathcart:
“We join the nation in mourning the tragic murder of nine African-American parishioners in Charleston. Crimes like this, especially when they occur as this one did in a place of worship and in a historically African-American church, have scarred our nation and are a tragic reminder of how much work remains. Senseless violence motivated by hate has no place in a just society and everyone one of us has an obligation to stand up, speak out and work to end such violence. We offer our condolences to the families and loved ones of those who were killed and, more than that, we offer our promise to continue fighting for equality and justice.”
National LGBTQ Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey:
It is with a heavy heart that we join in mourning those killed in last night’s tragic shooting at a Charleston historically Black church. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the murder victims and the entire community of Charleston. This massacre is frighteningly reminiscent of the tragedies of another era taking place in churches in the South. While many would like to think that our nation has eliminated racism and discrimination, this appalling act of hate shows that we have not.
As this violent epidemic, the targeting and killing of Black people, continues with no end in sight—it becomes ever more clear that it is everyone’s responsibility to end all forms of racism and discrimination. No one, absolutely no one, should ever fear for their lives when stepping out of their homes, walking down the street in their own neighborhood, or attending a prayer services in their place of worship.
Jeff Ayers, executive director of South Carolina Equality:
“This morning, many of us woke up to the horrific news about the senseless massacre of nine innocent men and women during a prayer service inside one of Charleston’s oldest and historic black churches, Emanuel AME Church. This unthinkable tragedy reminds us of all the ways that we are united as one South Carolina family. The police have one suspect that is still at large and we hope that he will be found and brought to justice for this heinous crime.
I want to express, on behalf of SC Equality, how heartbroken we are. Even as we learn how this happened and who is responsible, we may never understand what leads someone to terrorize their fellow human beings like this. Such violence, such evil, is senseless. It’s beyond reason. But why we will never know fully what causes someone to take the life of another, we do know what makes life worth living.
The people that were lost last night in that sanctuary loved and were loved. They were mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, friends and neighbors. They had hopes for the future and hopes that were not yet fulfilled. I had the opportunity to meet Senator Pinckney many times at the State House and it was obvious that he was called to serve God as a pastor and his community as an elected official. He was a champion for the less fortunate and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, members of his church and to the families of the other eight victims in last night’s tragedy.”
The Alliance for Full Acceptance:
The hearts and prayers of the Alliance For Full Acceptance are with the families and congregants of Emanuel AME Church this morning and going forward. The crime of utter cruelty that took place last night in their place of worship is unconscionable and we stand with the African American community to do whatever we can to help seek justice and bring about peace and healing. As gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, we know all too well the atrocity of hate crimes. It’s a terrible reminder that our work for equality and acceptance on behalf of ALL PEOPLE is far from over.
Pride at Work Executive Director Jerame Davis:
The horrendous crime that took the lives of nine African-Americans at the Emmanuel AME church in Charleston, South Carolina yesterday is heart wrenching. In moments like these, words often fail, but we must speak out when senseless, racist violence takes innocent lives. Our thoughts go out to the victims and their families.
There is no justice that will bring back these nine people nor salve the grief of the surviving family members. The racist motivation of this murderer is another stark reminder that we must speak up and out to declare that #BlackLivesMatter. We will not rest until every corner of our country has heard that message and takes it to heart.
It is disgusting and deplorable that some are painting this act of hatred as anything other than racially motivated. The Emmanuel AME church is a symbol of black liberation and the killer was explicit about his motivation – even going so far as to tell a survivor he spared her so she could tell others what happened. Those who try to paint this as anti-Christian violence are deplorably engaging in whitewashing the truth of the matter to perpetuate a false narrative.
The violence, the racism, and the denial all must end. We are better than this.