Charleston church shooting survivors, lawmakers push for state hate crime law

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — Just days after the 10th anniversary of the Mother Emanuel AME Church shooting, survivors and local leaders are calling for action against hate. On Friday, the Racial Justice Network joined lawmakers and community advocates at the Opportunity Center in North Charleston, urging state leaders to finally pass a hate crime law.

“As I reflect upon the moment, a deep sadness overtakes me — not just for the immediate devastation, but the enduring truth it revealed about our collective humanity,” said Polly Sheppard, one of the survivors of the 2015 shooting. “These reflections carry sorrow and frustration… but also hope for something better.

South Carolina and Wyoming remain the only two states in the country without a statewide hate crime law. The proposed legislation is named after Reverend Clementa Pinckney, a state senator and pastor at Mother Emanuel who was killed in the attack.

But State Representative Wendell Gilliard says the delay is over.

“When we thought of this bill — it’s not just a Black bill. It’s not a white bill. This is a human rights bill,” Gilliard said. “Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. How dare we allow otherwise.”

As the community reflects on the decade since the tragedy, survivors say honoring the lives lost must include meaningful progress.

“I believe we can do better,” Sheppard added. “We must treat one another with empathy.”

Representative Gilliard is now drafting a local hate crime ordinance specific to Charleston County, with plans to release more details in the coming months.