Broken hearts, prayers, sympathy for the family members of those who were lost are all well-intentioned, but they're not enough. We should all be very clear about what happened in Charleston: Nine lives were stolen yesterday by the hands of a terrorist—a homegrown, racist terrorist. Not just a shooter or a person guilty of a hate crime. He is a terrorist who pre-meditated the mass murder of nine human beings.
Reports are now coming in saying that Roof was a known racist who allegedly told several witnesses, on more than one occasion, that he was planning an attack of this sort, a "massacre," as he called it. Take a minute to let that sink in. Multiple people heard these threats, the racist jokes Roof constantly spewed, his blatant hateful rhetoric. PEOPLE KNEW. Not one single person raised the alarm that could have saved the lives of nine innocent fellow human beings. Why is that? Because they lacked the knowledge to understand just how real his threats were.
With heavy hearts, the Life After Hate team does, indeed, send our love, thoughts, and compassion to the friends and loved ones of those who were lost, and to the Charleston community itself. We know the road to healing will be a long one for you. More than that, we call upon lawmakers and peace officers, family and friends, supporters and critics alike -- those who have the ability wholly in their grasp to preemptively curtail these sort of violent terrorist acts before they are committed.
We encourage you to look to the Life After Hate team and our community of Formers, who can help make a difference and turn the tide of senseless violence. We have the unique knowledge and insight to empower communities to recognize threats and to respond accordingly before tragedy strikes. And to our extended Life After Hate family, help us spread the word. Help us educate others to a place of inclusion, compassion, and understanding, to the knowledge that ALL lives matter. Together, we can make a difference. We can affect positive change. We can save lives.
“Freedom’s been my word ever since I got out. There’s nothing freeing about being trapped in that web.”
Very moving story about Lauren Manning, and what it takes to take responsibility and create the possibility for redemption.
NEWSTATESMAN.COM
“Afterwards, I asked: ‘Who am I now?’”: How it feels to escape the far right
We're proud to have contributed to this, and excited to be a part of this very important conversation.
HEALTHAFFAIRS.ORG
Hate-Motivated Behavior: Impacts, Risk Factors, And Interventions | Health Affairs Briefs
Tomorrow represents another grim anniversary.
The 10.27 Healing Partnership has worked closely with other organizations planning activities and volunteer opportunities for the day, culminating in a virtual commemoration at 7pm.
