On 9th anniversary of Charleston Emanuel AME shooting, church leaders look ahead (2024)

On the ninth anniversary of the Emanuel AME Church shooting, congregants and community members are honoring the nine victims and five survivors while looking to the future to ensure their story isn’t forgotten.

A self-avowed white supremacist joined a Bible study the night of June 17, 2015, at the historic Calhoun Street church. He opened fire in the fellowship hall, murdering a group of Black parishioners.

Family members appeared at the killer’s bond hearing two days later. Several stood up to speak as a magistrate called out the names of their loved ones. Some told the gunman they forgave him.

Their words reverberated across the globe, transforming an act of pure evil into a story of grace, resistance and strength.

The families’ ability to forgive is both a challenging and remarkable part of the tragedy, said the Rev. Eric S.C. Manning, who became Emanuel’s pastor in 2016. Forgiveness is empowering. And while it doesn’t absolve every wrongdoing, it allows people to relinquish hatred and animosity, he said.

Manning, who co-chairs the Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation, hopes this message inspires others to be better community members. He wants to ensure lessons from the massacre — and its aftermath — lead to ongoing, sustainable conversations.

At the centerpiece of this work will be a national memorial honoring the victims and survivors. The project, which flanks both sides of the church, is scheduled to open next June around the tragedy’s 10th anniversary.

The main courtyard features two white fellowship benches around a fountain inscribed with the victims’ names: Cynthia Graham Hurd. Susie Jackson. Ethel Lance. DePayne Middleton-Doctor. Clementa Pinckney. Tywanza Sanders. Daniel Simmons Sr. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton. Myra Thompson.

Construction workers are currently pouring foundations for the large marble benches, said Korey Smith, the project manager. The actual installation will be a lengthy, tedious process.

Each piece will be shipped from a Wisconsin-based manufacturer. A crane will then slide the stones together, one by one. The result will be an interlocking structure with pieces supported on both sides.

New York-based architect Michael Arad chose the design because it’s an apt analogy for what a fellowship bench and a community should be, he said: Strength is derived from the pieces acting in unison.

Lifelong Emanuel member Blondelle Gadsden lost her sister, Myra, in the shooting. She heads the Emanuel Nine Commemoration Committee, which put together a schedule of events through June 23.

Gadsden hopes community members who participate in this year’s programming will be encouraged to return in 2025 when the memorial opens.

Construction for the main courtyard is on track, Smith said. But the foundation needs to raise more money — at least $6 million — to build a survivors’ garden, make parking lot improvements and cover an endowment.

A portion of those funds will also go toward educational efforts. Manning is in charge of this piece, which he sees as critical for ensuring the memorial doesn’t simply become a site to admire.

Year-round programming will focus on confronting hate and racism, fostering reconciliation, inspiring forgiveness and empowering others to build strong communities.

The foundation is putting together an initial group that will take part in surveys designed to uncover possible biases, Manning said. He envisions these surveys as a springboard for conversations about blind spots and how to better understand our neighbors.

As the memorial’s opening approaches, both the foundation and Emanuel are adjusting for the long haul, Manning said.

Anyone interested in participating in the commemorative events can visit motheremanuel.com for more information or contact committee head Blondelle Gadsden at 843-303-8740.