CHARLESTON, S.C.–A New Jersey woman and radio DJ named Karen Hunter has launched an online petition on MoveOn.org to remove the Confederate flag from all government places in South Carolina.
“The Confederate flag is not a symbol of southern pride but rather a symbol of rebellion and racism,” the petition reads. “It’s time to put that symbol of rebellion and racism behind us and move toward healing and a better United States of America!”
To date, nearly 464,000 people have signed the petition.
It comes shortly after the deadly church shooting at Emanuel AME Church, one of the oldest black church’s in the south that dates back to the early 1800s. Founded by slaves, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke at “Mother Emanuel” in 1962.
On June 17th, Charleston Police Chief Greg Mullen stated that 21-year-old Dylann Roof of Columbia walked inside the church and shot to death nine of the church’s members, including the pastor, during a Bible study. The victims’ ages ranged from 26 to 87-years-old.
Reportedly motivated by hate for black people, friends of Roof say he had hoped to start a second “civil war” among the races.
Authorities say that Roof was in the church for about an hour before he decided to go through with his killing spree.
According to one of the survivors of the bloody massacre, Roof made racially charged comments as he was killing off his victims.
‘He just said: “I have to do it. You rape our women and you’re taking over our country. And you have to go,” Sylvia Johnson, the cousin of one of the victims, stated.
Three days after the shooting, a disturbing website titled “The Last Rhodesian” allegedly belonging to Roof was discovered, possibly providing insight into his troubled mind.
“I have no choice. I am not in the position to, alone, go into the ghetto and fight. I chose Charleston because it is
most historic city in my state, and at one time had the highest ratio of blacks to Whites in the country,” Roof wrote on the site.
The site concludes with the subheading “Explanation” which seems to provide a reason for the shooting.
“We have no skinheads, no real KKK, no one doing anything but talking on the internet. Well someone has to have the bravery to take it to the real world, and I guess that has to be me.”
The website also contains a multitude of chilling images of Roof pointing a handgun to the camera, burning the American flag and proudly displaying the Confederate flag.
A spokesperson for the Charleston Police Department says his agency as well as the FBI are aware of the site’s existence.
Roof has been charged with nine counts of murder and currently remains behind bars inside the Charleston County Detention Center in North Charleston.
If found guilty, Roof could face the death penalty.
- Nearly Century-Old St. Stephen School To Be Torn Down - March 20, 2024
- BCSD Approves $10K Bonus For Special Education Teachers - March 19, 2024
- WakeUp Carolina Celebrates Moncks Corner Grand Opening With Ribbon Cutting - March 12, 2024
Recent Comments