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June 17, 2024 Story by: Editor
Marking the ninth anniversary of the devastating Emanuel AME Church shooting, the church community and local supporters are remembering the nine victims and honoring the five survivors. The focus now is on preserving their story and ensuring it remains a powerful legacy.
On June 17, 2015, a self-professed white supremacist attended a Bible study session at the historic Calhoun Street church, opening fire and killing a group of Black worshippers in the fellowship hall.
Two days later, during the assailant’s bond hearing, family members of the victims addressed the court. Some expressed forgiveness towards the shooter, a profound act that resonated worldwide, transforming an atrocity into a testament of grace, resilience, and strength.
The Rev. Eric S.C. Manning, who became the church’s pastor in 2016, reflected on this remarkable forgiveness. “Forgiveness is empowering. And while it doesn’t absolve every wrongdoing, it allows people to relinquish hatred and animosity,” he explained. Manning, who also co-chairs the Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation, hopes this message encourages stronger community ties and continuous, meaningful dialogue.
Central to these efforts is a national memorial dedicated to the victims and survivors, scheduled to open next June for the tenth anniversary of the tragedy. The memorial, flanking both sides of the church, features a main courtyard with two white fellowship benches encircling 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, and Myra Thompson.
Korey Smith, the project manager, shared that construction workers are currently laying the foundations for the large marble benches. The assembly process will be intricate, with each piece shipped from a Wisconsin manufacturer and carefully placed by a crane to form a cohesive structure.
Michael Arad, a New York-based architect, designed the memorial. He emphasized that the design symbolizes the strength derived from community unity, much like the interlocking pieces of the fellowship benches.
Blondelle Gadsden, a lifelong member of Emanuel who lost her sister Myra in the shooting, leads the Emanuel Nine Commemoration Committee. The committee has organized events running through June 23, and Gadsden hopes this year’s participants will return in 2025 for the memorial’s unveiling.
While the main courtyard’s construction is progressing, Smith noted that an additional $6 million is needed to complete the survivors’ garden, improve the parking lot, and establish an endowment. Part of these funds will support educational initiatives aimed at preventing the memorial from becoming a mere tourist site.
Manning, overseeing the educational component, envisions year-round programming that tackles hate and racism, promotes reconciliation, encourages forgiveness, and strengthens community bonds. The foundation is launching surveys to identify biases and initiate conversations about understanding and overcoming blind spots. Source: The Post and Courier
As the memorial’s completion nears, both the foundation and Emanuel are preparing for the long-term impact. Those interested in the commemorative events can find more information at motheremanuel.com or contact Blondelle Gadsden at 843-303-8740.
