WASHINGTON – June 18, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — The Center for Community Change today mourns deeply with the members of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, where nine people attending a prayer service were apparently killed by a lone gunman.
“This historic church with roots dating back to 1816 was founded by members seeking a safe place to worship, and it has been the site of civil rights speeches and marches for racial equality,” said Kica Matos, Director of Immigrant Rights and Racial Justice at the Center for Community Change. “This past year has seen unspeakable crimes against Black people. We should all be very concerned and agitated to act when the places that so many people call a sanctuary suffer violence and loss such as this.”
“Decades after the civil rights era, America continues to grapple with issues of racism and violence that must be addressed now,” Matos added. “While dialogue and action to build a more just and equitable society may be painful for many, forfeiting our obligation to find solutions signals complacency while giving hate-filled people another opportunity to strike. The history of Emanuel AME and its congregants shows us that we must be brave and bold in our fight for equality and justice.”
Contact: Donna De La Cruz, 
