Charleston is in mourning after a gunman stormed the historic black Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, killing nine people.
Hundreds on Thursday afternoon packed into Morris Brown A.M.E. Church, which is just blocks away from "Mother Emanuel," for an emotional prayer vigil. The church quickly reached capacity, and a large crowd gathered just outside its doors.
The church that the gunman targeted on Wednesday is at the center of Charleston's African-American community because of the role it played through black history in the South. Its congregation is the oldest of its kind in the South. But local reporters described a diverse crowd gathered in the wooden pews and balconies of Morris Brown A.M.E. church, belting out hymns and mourning the victims of the attack.
Charleston pulling together, raising spirits. #together #prayforcharleston #iamame #emmanuelame #chslove #charleston #community A video posted by alice keeney photography (@alicekeeney) on Jun 18, 2015 at 9:30am PDT
Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley and Governor Nikki Haley were both in attendance, and police checked the bags of those who entered the building.
Inside the Morris Brown AME Church pic.twitter.com/oDPPRk3IqB— Liz Kreutz (@ABCLiz) June 18, 2015
"What happened in that church last night is not South Carolina. What happened today in this church -- those are the people of South Carolina," Haley said.
Choking back tears, Haley spoke to the congregation and vowed that the "day would come" for suspected shooter Dylann Roof, who was taken into custody on Thursday. "There only had to have been hate in his heart," she added.
As the church reached capacity, mourners poured out onto the street. Many held hands, prayed, and sang as they remembered those killed.
At one point, they formed a circle and sang "We Shall Overcome" and "Amazing Grace."
Overflow crowd sings We Shall Overcome outside church pic.twitter.com/gqLubAclpT— schuyler kropf (@skropf47) June 18, 2015
Amazing Grace being sung by 200 people outside Morris Brown AME Church pic.twitter.com/gsjXcpQxdg— schuyler kropf (@skropf47) June 18, 2015
Hundreds are outside church, turned away because church is full. #CharlestonShooting pic.twitter.com/V9xfeKfo3d— Hannah Moseley (@HannahLive5) June 18, 2015
During the vigil, calls for stricter gun control laws were echoed, but clearly divided the opinions of local politicians. As the crowd applauded calls for gun control, Republicans Governor Haley, Sen. Tim Scott, and Attorney General Alan Wilson remained seated.
Political awkward moment: Gov. Haley, Sen. Scott, AG Wilson sit during standing ovation after a call for gun control pic.twitter.com/gsb5VIhmZa— Andy Shain (@AndyShain) June 18, 2015
President Obama also spoke out against gun violence in America during an address to the nation on Thursday, and said the attack was possible, "in part because someone who wanted to inflict harm had no trouble getting their hands on a gun."
"At some point, we as a country will have to reckon with the fact that this type of mass violence does not happen in other advanced countries. It doesn’t happen in other places with this kind of frequency," said Obama during his speech.
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He noted the historic importance of the Emanuel A.M.E. Church, known locally as "Mother Emanuel." He personally knew the pastor of the church, South Carolina Senator Clementa Pinckney, and his family.
“Mother Emanuel Church and its congregation have risen before from flames from an earthquake from other dark times,” said Obama. “It will rise again now as a place of peace."