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Charleston Marks Decade Since Emanuel AME Massacre With Memorial Under Construction and Calls for Reform

Survivors and families of the Emanuel Nine are urging stricter gun legislation

Overview

  • Communities held a series of remembrance services on June 17 and throughout the week, including the Emanuel Nine Day of Observance at Mother Emanuel AME Church
  • Survivors such as Malana Pinckney and her sister Eliana reflected on personal milestones underscoring enduring grief and resilience
  • Faith leaders and figures like Rabbi Jeff Myers, Gabby Giffords and Mark Kelly delivered calls for hate crime laws and tighter gun regulations
  • A stone memorial adjacent to Mother Emanuel is under construction and slated to open in early 2026 as a permanent tribute
  • The 2015 shooting spurred the Confederate flag’s removal from the Statehouse, but community members say racial justice and gun reform remain urgent priorities