Tuesday marks 10 years since Charleston church shooting

CHARLOTTE, NC — Tuesday marks 10 years since the Mother Emmanuel Ame church shooting in Charleston.

On June 17, 2015, nine people were killed during a racially motivated attack during a bible study. 

“With all love and remembrance to my beloved sister Cynthia, who was tragically taken from us in 2015 at Emanuel  AME  church, your light and love continue to guide us and inspire me every day.”

 Malcolm Graham reading the dedication of his book ‘The Way Forward’ ten years after the death of his sister Cynthia Hurd. 

The book is a tribute to her – it now sits in the library in Charleston…. where Cynthia dedicated 31 years of her life. 

A life cut short when a racially motivated gunman interrupted a bible study at Emanuel AME church in Charleston and took the lives of nine black people. 

” I still miss her each and every day. We focused not on how she died, but how she lived and who she was and the impact she made.” 

Graham says Hurd’s message to people today would be to keep the faith and do the work.

For him that means addressing issues like racism, discrimination and gun violence.

“Certainly after ten years, it’s beyond the time for action, but we just got more work to do,” Graham said. 

South Carolina lawmakers have yet to pass a statewide hate crime law making the state one of only two without such a law in place. 

“Part of the way forward is to address the root causes, get legislation, and create what I call some healthy tension along the way,” Graham said. 

While some may think the way forward is forgiveness, Graham said it’s action.

“To the eight other beautiful souls who lost their lives along with her. To the survivors who have shown immense strength and resilience. May your stories inspire hope and change for a better future.”