Statement from Rev. Corey Keyes on the shootings at Emanuel AME Church, Charleston

I truly believe and hope and pray that with progressively more enlightening, co-mingling, and blending of successive generations, we are experiencing the death throes of racism in this country. But this particular monster is very dangerous as it thrashes, gnashes and breathes fire to the last. People are dying. Others are pretending this is not happening — claiming crimes here and there are isolated events in which the race of the victim is incidental, or that a particular crime is simply the product of a lone, sick mind. Until science convinces us to eliminate the myth of race, I’d dearly love it if, at least among my circle of acquaintance and influence, we recognize that the monster of racism is still nurtured, stoked, and encouraged by many in our nation.
We cry out and pray for our sisters and brothers at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, the parents, spouses, siblings, children, and friends of the victims, the people of Charleston and South Carolina, and our country.
The prejudiced and the hate-filled are well aware of the power of faith communities committed to social justice. You can discount us, deride us, slander us, threaten us, bomb us, shoot us up… but we’re growing stronger every day, and we’re coming for you. And when we catch you, we are going to love and teach you right out of your ignorant, misdirected rage.