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In Remembrance: 5 Years After the Mother Emanuel Shooting

Just five years ago, the nine members of the oldest African Methodist Episcopal Church in the South were devastatingly killed. As an act of terrorism, a white supremacist attended their bible study before opening fire. He’s said to have targeted Mother Emanuel for its stature and history. This 2015 shooting still holds a large piece of Charleston history, especially for the black community. We remember those lost and affected by the Mother Emanuel shooting.

Today, this issue remains as relevant as ever.

Almost four dozen protesters gathered at the Battery last week in honor of the nine victims in the 2015 shooting. This Wednesday is the official anniversary. The group’s call to action honors those who have lost their lives to white supremacy. They were met by a counter group of supporters of the Confederate flag. 

With many protests around Charleston, this week is expected to especially highlight these issues. Friday the 19th is the celebration of Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day. The holiday commemorates the ending of slavery throughout the Confederate South. Community members can find numerous ways to celebrate Juneteenth this year. Join Juneteenth Rock Hill on Instagram and Facebook Live for a virtual commemoration.

News

Emanuel 9 Honored by Goose Creek High Basketball Uniforms

Goose Creek High Honors Emanuel 9 With New Basketball Uniforms

Featured Image Credit: Goose Creek High School Gators Facebook

When the Goose Creek men’s basketball team takes the court this season, there will be something different about their uniforms. The uniforms will feature a tribute to the nine people whose lives were lost at Mother Emanuel in June 2015.

Coach Blake Hall ordered the uniforms back in August and made sure all three versions of the uniforms incorporate Gil Shuler’s palmetto dove graphic honoring the Emanuel 9. Two variations have the symbol on the belts and the third has the symbol on the leg. Hall has been coaching the Gators for the past six years.

Emanuel 9 Honored by Goose Creek High Basketball Uniforms

Image Credit: Goose Creek High School Gators Facebook

The new uniforms were partially inspired by how resilient Charleston was after the shooting. However, the biggest inspiration was a former Goose Creek High School basketball player, Chris Singleton, whose mother, Sharonda, died that evening at the church. Hall said he was impressed by how Singleton handled himself during the situation.

Singleton, who went on from Goose Creek High to Charleston Southern University and was later drafted by the Chicago Cubs in June 2017. Until he leaves for Arizona to attend spring training, he will be busy with speaking engagements. Singleton says he speaks on “forgiveness, overcoming adversity, and racial relations.”

His opinion on the uniforms? He thinks they’re “awesome.” He counts Coach Hall among the people he stays close to, highlighting his wisdom and coaching ability. For his part, Hall says that the uniforms honoring the Emanuel 9 will be used for the next few seasons.