On the evening of June 17, 2015, a devastating act of violence occurred at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, one of the United States’ oldest black churches. A gunman killed nine African American church members, including senior pastor and state senator Clementa C. Pinckney, during a Bible study session. This racially motivated mass shooting shocked the nation and reignited urgent conversations about race relations, hate crimes, and gun control in America. The event also led to widespread discussions about the prominence of Confederate symbols in public spaces, contributing to subsequent changes in several states.
