State Senator Pinckney is dead.

[RandySF]

Confirmed on MSNBC. This was a political assassination.

[joshcryer]

1. They are about to have the news conference.

http://www.wistv.com/category/219058/live-stream?clienttype=generic

[Joe the Revelator]

2. We don't know that it was an 'assasination"

The shooter could have been too dumb to know who he was shooting, just that he was shooting black people

[joshcryer]

4. It could've been a crazy guy like the Gabby Giffords shooter.

He was seriously crazy and chose a political target.

[RandySF]

7. This is a high profile, politically active church.

Rev. Pinckney was even at a Hillary fundraiser earlier today.

[Joe the Revelator]

8. Which i think, speculating, that this points more towards a racially motivated attack

rather than a political one, though the margins are obviously grey.

[joshcryer]

14. I think if it's racial a political target would make the biggest news.

So that's why a racially motivated crime would pan out.

The official investigator said it was a hate crime just now.

[riversedge]

16. I read it was only a half mile down the road.

[Cheese Sandwich]

22. Where did you read it?

Last edited Thu Jun 18, 2015, 01:52 AM - Edit history (1)

Nevermind I think maybe this link says it...

http://bluenationreview.com/breaking-shooting-at-historic-church-in-charleston-leaves-8-dead/

[joshcryer]

18. Do you know anything about the guy who claimed responsibility?

I heard it on the news conference but I missed the name of the paper he called in to.

If it was political he would've said as much.

[Joe the Revelator]

21. *If* the guy who called it in is legit, he reported his name as Elijah Graham

IF that guy is legit, i'd bet that name has some significance.

[joshcryer]

23. Thanks for the lead.

Here's a link: http://www.rawstory.com/2015/06/suspect-at-large-in-shooting-attack-at-historic-s-carolina-church-led-by-state-lawmaker/

Couldn't find anything about it except what was stated in the news conference.

[Joe the Revelator]

24. I looked up that name against the slave uprising that involved the church and hit a dead end, howeve

i was focusing more on the breaking news stuff at that time.

[dgibby]

43. Summerville Journal Scene

Summerville is about 12 miles northwest of downtown Charleston. That's where I used to live. All those communities run into each other. Charleston, North Charleston, Goose Creek, Summerville-you can't tell one from the other without road signs.

[joshcryer]

45. Yeah, the link I posted linked it.

Really creepy.

[malaise]

46. This is huge

Race and politics - hate crime

[pnwmom]

39. First there was a bomb threat. This doesn't sound like some random shooting. n/t

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. So very sad.

[bluestateguy]

5. What happened?

I just got up from an unplanned nap.

[joshcryer]

9. Shooting at Charleston SC church, 9 dead.

[Joe the Revelator]

10. See this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026855169

[TDale313]

6. So horrible.

Politically and racially motivated in all likelihood. Very, very sad.

[Warpy]

11. This just keeps getting worse and worse

The NRA must be SO PROUD.

[wendylaroux]

12. Don't know whether to cry or scream

just so horrible.

[Joe the Revelator]

13. Scream....we are about to see the summer of our discontent

Screaming is a viable option.

[morningfog]

15. It certainly feels like things are boiling over.

[calimary]

30. Yeah, no kidding. Fills me with trepidation sometimes.

This is the summer of our discontent. Or one of 'em, anyway. In two months or so, it'll be the first anniversary of Michael Brown.

WHEN does it end??? WHEN can we figure a way to END the fucking shootings all the time? Whether it's police, wackos, or police wackos...

[CherokeeDem]

17. I'm so afraid you're right....

and it scares the hell out of me....

[lovemydog]

19. Some info on State Senator Pinckney:

District 45 – Allendale, Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, Hampton & Jasper Counties

Senator Pinckney is the Pastor of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. He resides in Ridgeland. Prior to serving in the state Senate, he served two terms in the state House of Representatives.



http://www.scsenatedems.org/senator-clementa-pinckney/

[bravenak]

25. I can't take much more of this.

[lovemydog]

28. Nor can I.

[bravenak]

36. At least we're together.

[lovemydog]

37. Yes we are.

I appreciate that very much.

I'm sick of this bravenak.

I'm going to find a march in my area and join them. I expect there will be marches all over the country.

To honor these victims. And join in solidarity with like minded people.

Thinking of our discussions, I'm trying to think of what to write on a sign. Maybe 'End Racist Prison Policy' or something like that.

[bravenak]

44. I feel you.

I feel like we never make any progress no matter how hard we try. Seems to me that those peopl in that church were trying to do the best they could to improve things in our society. It is always thus. Noone would walk into a gang meeting and try that with armed gang member, they bomb little girls in churches and shoot up prayer meetings. I have no idea what to think or say but I'm tired and angry and keep crying...
I hope they find this evil man soon before he kills another person. That's all I can hope for right now. Just find him and capture him. We can go from there.

[lovemydog]

52. Yes. Find him and capture him.

We can go from there.

[jaysunb]

33. At my age (72) this is more painful than I can express. n/t

[bravenak]

35. I feel heartbroken too.

[Spazito]

20. Officials are saying it is a hate crime...

I am glad they haven't hesitated to call these murders what it is, a hate crime.

[bluestateguy]

29. A hate crime and a terrorist act

And the killer should be treated as such.

In Israel they plow over terrorist's houses.

[calimary]

32. Sure sounds like domestic terrorism to me.

Horrible.

Just horrible.

[Behind the Aegis]

47. IMO, hate crimes ARE domestic terrorism.

If our government treated them as such, some things would change!

[Cheese Sandwich]

26. This is so horrible

very bad.

[Iliyah]

27. Prayers

[prayin4rain]

31. This horrifying.

[eridani]

34. I thought that after the 60s, there would be no more Birmingham Sundays

Silly me. This shit has got to stop!!! I thought I was done with national marches, but not for this.

[malaise]

50. This is a register to vote church as well

AMEs are progressive churches.

[eridani]

54. No surprises there. An obvious target for racist terrorism n/t

[malaise]

55. It's one of the oldest churches in the South

MLK preached there - this was definitely a hate crime.

[Aerows]

38. Tragic for all the people

and their family's that are involved.

Why does such evil have to exist in this world?

[lovemydog]

40. Just to give a head's up to everyone, there's a late breaking news thread

here as well.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141120459

[RandySF]

42. Even the police are calling it a hate crime.

[denbot]

51. FFS RandySF

Don't feed the you-know-what's..

[joshcryer]

48. They just arrested some dude live on camera.

Unclear if he was violating some area thing or if he was a suspect. He really fit the description though. Would've been super creepy if he turned out to be the suspect...

[RandySF]

53. It wasn't him.

He was walking out of the store when police detained and questioned him. He seemed to be cool about and acknowledged that he fit the description. All of this is hashtag #charlestonshooting.

[joshcryer]

56. Thanks, that's what I thought it was.

He had a sheepish look on his face, so he knew he fit the description. Glad it went over OK.

[dgibby]

49. As Mayor Joe Riley said,

when someone goes into a church where people are engaged in Wed. evening prayer meeting, and opens fire, killing 9, and wounding one, it's due to hate.