Pelosi Statement on Five Years Since the Mother Emanuel Church Massacre
June 17, 2020
Contact: Speaker's Press Office,
202-226-7616
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi released this statement marking five years since the racist act of violence that killed nine parishioners at the historic Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C. on June 17, 2015:
"Five years ago, our nation was shocked and heartbroken by the horrific act of racism and gun violence that stole nine beautiful souls who were gathered in peaceful prayer at Mother Emanuel AME in Charleston. This hate-fueled act of violence remains seared into our hearts and our memories, and has driven our shared efforts to ensure these acts of barbarism never happen again.
"Last year, moved by the courage of the Mother Emanuel community and the persistent voices of survivors and advocates across the country, House Democrats took bold action to protect our communities. We overwhelmingly passed H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act to ensure universal background checks, and to close the Charleston loophole that enabled this hate crime, we passed Majority Whip James Clyburn's H.R. 1112, the Enhanced Background Checks Act. Now, Leader Mitch McConnell must end his partisan obstruction and allow the Senate to vote on these life-saving bills. And to honor the victims of Mother Emanuel and countless others, we must rededicate ourselves to opposing hatred, bigotry and violence wherever and whenever it is found.
"As our nation takes important steps to confront systemic racism and violence in our communities, we must do all we can to protect the rights and dignity of all Americans. Today, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to end the epidemic of gun violence and to build a brighter, more just and equal future for all."
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