President Joe Biden spoke in Charleston Monday.By Lily Levin | President Joe Biden criticized the stain of white supremacy and the rise of hatred in America during an emotional 2024 campaign speech Monday at Charleston’s historic Emanuel AME Church, site of the racist killing of nine worshippers in 2015 during a Bible study meeting.
“The word of God was pierced by bullets and hate and rage, propelled by not just gunpowder, but by a poison – a poison that for too long has haunted this nation. What is that poison? White supremacy. That’s all it is – a poison.
“Throughout our history, it has ripped this nation apart. This has no place in America. Not today. Not tomorrow or ever.”
Biden praised the families of survivors and members of the church for how they forgave the shooter, Dylann Roof, in spite of the pain and chaos he left behind.
“This nation saw this congregation, this community, demonstrate one of the greatest acts of strength I have ever seen – I mean it sincerely – the act of forgiveness. The act of grace. It was as President Obama sang from here, Amazing Grace. It changed hearts.”
Later, Biden got emotional when he recalled how members of Emanuel AME helped him and his family heal from the loss of his son just 22 days before the Charleston shooting.
“We were in more pain than we knew,” Biden reflected on his visit as vice president. “We came here to offer comfort and received comfort from you. As I listened in the pews and spent time with the families and visited Reverend [Clementa] Pinckney’s office, visited the memorial of the victims outside, I grew stronger. My family grew stronger. We prayed together. We grieved together. We found hope together for real, for real. It reminds me that each of us must find purpose throughout the pain.”
Later in the speech, Biden further addressed the rise of hatred in America and the importance of unity. There are some people, he said, who believe that “if I hold you down, I lift myself up.” But that is wrong, he continued, advising the crowd to “choose the truth; choose America.”
Reactions to the president’s visit
State Rep. J.A. Moore, a Berkeley County Democrat whose sister was one of the nine victims in the shooting, said Biden’s words were vital to the country.
“I think that it’s critical in a moment such as this that you have the president of the United States come to the sacred grounds where my sister unwittingly gave her life along with eight other parishioners praising a God of justice, a God of understanding and passion.”
Moore added he felt Biden should “demand that the [state] Senate finally pass the hate crime bill that’s been sitting on their side for almost a year now,” noting how South Carolina was only one of two states in the nation to not have such a law in the books.
Colleen Condon, a former county council member who serves as the state Democratic Party’s first vice-chair, praised Biden for his work as president.
“President Biden has looked out for South Carolinians in his first term, and we understand the importance of South Carolina, a state with a large percentage of African Americans, kicking off the reelection process.
“The president’s visit to Mother Emanuel shows the stark contrast of Biden’s accomplishments for real Americans versus more MAGA hate talk.”
Charleston Realtor Ed Sutton, a candidate for state Senate, said Biden has delivered as president for the Palmetto State with big infrastructure investments.
“We can thank Biden for the pending $29 million electric transportation hub at Shipwatch Square in North Charleston. President Biden deserves another 4 years as President, no question in my mind,” he told the Charleston City Paper.
Lily Levin is a reporter with the Charleston City Paper, where a version of this story first appeared. Have a comment? Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!
Did the “President” forget his boss President Obama covered this very story and very place many years ago?