Senate unanimously passes resolution honoring Mother Emanuel AME Church attack victims

Sens. Graham, Scott react to former House Speaker McCarthy retirement announcement (AP Photos – Patrick Semansky, J. Scott Applewhite)

(WCIV) — A resolution introduced by U.S. Sens. Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham to commemorate the nine victims of the Mother Emanuel AME Church attack in Charleston passed unanimously in the U.S. Senate Tuesday.

The attack occurred ten years ago.

“The senseless violence that occurred ten years ago was motivated by sheer hate and bigotry, but the people of South Carolina came together in a way that I haven’t seen in a long time,” said Sen. Graham while reflecting on the tragedy. “Out of this terrible tragedy, we are stronger than we were before, and Mother Emanuel is still standing today.”

Graham expressed his gratitude for Senator Scott’s leadership and said he was “honored to join with him to commemorate the lives lost and continue to lift up their loved ones.”

Sen. Scott emphasized the importance of unity in the face of grief, stating, “As we continue to wrestle with the grief and pain of loss from that tragic night, we must not succumb to hate. Instead, let us celebrate their stories and be empowered by their legacies to join together in a spirit of unity.”