Victims of South Carolina church shooting remembered at Raleigh vigil
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- After a crime so full of hate in a place of worship more than 200 miles away, people in a similar place of worship in Raleigh, from all walks of life, came together Thursday evening to show forgiveness in faith.
"By the grace of God, we must find it in our hearts, with the help of the Creator, the means, even as Rev. Pinckney's mother and others have said today, pray for forgiveness for the evil doer," said Rev. William Barber, President of the North Carolina NAACP.
Barber spoke of forgiveness at a prayer vigil at St. Paul AME Church in downtown Raleigh.
He also talked about how the shootings in Charleston are proof of the need for change.
"Honor Rev. Pinckney by ending gun violence," said Barber.
Rev. Barber was just one of many invited to speak at Thursday night's vigil.
Pastor Gregory Edmond of St. Paul AME Church in Raleigh also invited other pastors from AME churches all over the area. Edmond knew the late Rev. Clementa Pinckney.
"He was a man who looked beyond races and saw faces. He was a community activist. He loved people," said Pastor Edmond.
St. Augustine's University President Dr. Everett Ward also took to the podium. He told the crowd that the tragic losses in Charleston hit close to home for one of his alum.
"One of our sons of St. Augustine's, Tyrone Sanders, lost his son and his aunt last night," said Everett.
Everett said Sanders graduated in 1976 and is from the Charleston area. Everett said he has tried to contact Mr. Sanders to offer condolences, but so far has not been able to reach him.
There will be another vigil on Friday at noon. This one will be hosted by the St. Paul AME Church on Merritt Mill Road in Chapel Hill.
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