Jun 18, 2015

Equality NC Responds to Charleston Shooting

MEDIA CONTACT: Jonah Herman, Equality NC, (919) 860-1416, jonah@equalitync.org

RALEIGH, N.C. (June 18, 2015) -- Equality NC responded today to Wednesday night's Charleston church shooting that left nine African-American parishioners dead.

The suspect in the mass shooting, which is being called a hate crime, is a 21-year-old white male named Dylann Storm Roof, who was arrested today in Shelby, North Carolina during a traffic stop.

The following statement can be attributed to Chris Sgro, executive director at Equality NC:

Our hearts and thoughts go out to all individuals and families impacted by Wednesday's tragedy at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston.

Today we join with an entire nation to decry this unspeakable and hateful act, mourn these nine victims -- all parishioners in a house of worship with a storied history of fighting for equal rights and justice -- and begin to lift up the anger, sadness, healing, and action necessary to end this type of senseless violence, wherever it may live.

Equality NC is a statewide organization working to secure equal rights and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) North Carolinians.