Memorial opens for victims of 2015 Charleston church massacre
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 08:01 · Archive
A memorial has opened at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston honouring nine Black parishioners killed by a white supremacist in 2015.
Eleven years after a white gunman killed nine Black parishioners at the South's oldest African Methodist Episcopal Church, a long-planned memorial opened to the public on Saturday. The marble memorial is anchored by a Fountain of Grace, symbolizing God's eternal love and mercy, with the names of the six women and three men slain etched into a shallow basin. Two Fellowship Benches with curved backs flank the fountain, and a Cross of Hope stands nearby, signifying redemption in the wake of suffering.
Alana Grant, granddaughter of Rev. Daniel Lee Simmons, one of those killed, said it took her years to find the strength to return to the church basement where her grandfather attended his final Bible study. She described the memorial as providing a public space where 'people can go and remember really what happened here'. The Rev. Eric Manning, co-chair of the Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation board and who took over after pastor and state Sen. Clementa Pinckney was among those killed, said the memorial will mean something to everyone.
A garden honouring the five survivors is planned to follow.
How it is being reported
- Memorial opens honoring victims of the 2015 Charleston church massacreEleven years after a white gunman killed nine Black parishioners inside the South’s oldest African Methodist Episcopal Church, a long planned memorial is opening to honor their lives.News4Jax · 14 Nov, 07:15
- Memorial opens honoring victims of the 2015 Charleston church massacreEleven years after a white gunman killed nine Black parishioners inside the South’s oldest African Methodist Episcopal Church, a long planned memorial is opening to honor their lives.Clickorlando · 14 Nov, 07:15
In this story: Mother Emanuel AME Church · Charleston · Alana Grant · Daniel Lee Simmons · Clementa Pinckney · Eric Manning
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