Outpouring of love and unity on Folly Beach in the wake of the Emanuel A.M.E. Shooting
By Richard Brendel | Contributing Writer
A few weeks ago, here in Charleston, we awoke to the news that their had been a mass shooting at a black church downtown. I was soon informed that two of the victims where directly related to my electrician, a man I’ve spent many hours with as we remodeled my home. My heart sank as more and more information was discovered about the shooting. It was in those moments of deep despair that I started to notice our community coming together.
First, during the arraignment hearing for the shooter, we witnessed the family members forgiving their loved ones’ killer. That staggering display of love even took the media by surprise.
The second moment was the powerful collective spirit when the citizens of Charleston came together on the Ravenel Bridge to show our support for peace and strength in the wake of tragedy.
Then, a huge troupe of local musicians got together at the Pour House and threw a fundraiser to benefit the victims and the church. They raised more than $30,000.
Fourth, the local surf community got together for a memorial paddle out on Folly Beach in honor of the AME Mother Emanuel church. As surfers, the greatest honor we can bestow is to hold a paddleout for those who have passed on.
Charleston, among all the cities out there, possesses a truly special kind of community. The victims — they are our librarians, our senators, our beer delivery guys, and in this case, my electrician. They’re our community, and like us, they are the life blood of what makes Charleston the city that it is.
One of the best things about surfing is the community that comes with it — a group of people who know what it’s like to ride the energies of Mother Nature. When tragedy strikes, it’s strength in numbers — it’s the power of community that shows us the direction we all must take to move forward.
It was infectious to forgive, fulfilling to gather on the bridge, rejoiceful to come together around great music and healing to paddle out in honor of the fallen. This is a time to remember — the time Charleston got punched in the face and, as a community, led by the victims’ incredible families, collectively turned the other cheek.
