laska, Oregon, and Washington State Area Conference of the NAACP Releases Statement on Recent Shooting at Church in Charleston

“Yesterday’s Attack Struck at the Heart of Our Community and Our History”

Seattle, WA--Following the shooting of nine unarmed people at a church in Charleston, S.C., the Alaska, Oregon, and Washington State Area Conference of the NAACP released a statement:

“It is with a heavy heart and much sadness that we offer our condolences to the families and loved ones of the shooting atEmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in South Carolina and across the country that is still reeling from this tragic and horrific incident.

Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church is the oldest AME church in the South, and yesterday’s attack struck at the heart of our community and our history. This is an act of terrorism, and is yet another unbearable example of the centuries of persecution that black people have faced in this country.

The recent media frenzy around one person’s identity in Spokane has detracted from the far more important and pressing issue at hand: how do we work to undo the individual, institutional, and structural racism that is plaguing our country, and killing and incarcerating whole generations of black people? Every day, black people face the reality that they could be targeted at any moment because of nothing more than the color of their skin.

We stand in love and support with our brothers and sisters across the country as we ask for an end to the violence and an end to the hatred. It is more important than ever that we join together to demand justice and to chart a new course forward for our country.”

TONIGHT at 6:30pm community and faith leaders will hold a candlelight vigil at First AME Church in Seattle (1522 14th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122). Media is welcome to attend.

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Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities. More information about the Seattle King County NAACP can be found here: www.seattlekingcountynaacp.org 

The Alaska Oregon Washington State Area Conference (AOWSAC) of the NAACP is comprised of 13 local branches dedicated to improving the political, educational, social and economic status of all persons, eliminating racial prejudice, and keeping the public aware of the adverse effects of discrimination at the state level.