SRES 282119th CongressIntroduced

A resolution commemorating June 17, 2025, as the tenth anniversary of the Mother Emanuel AME Church shooting.

Introduced: Jun 17, 2025

Civil Rights & Justice

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This is a Senate resolution recognizing June 17, 2025 as the tenth anniversary of the Mother Emanuel AME Church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina. The measure memorializes the nine victims from the Emanuel Nine, along with additional named individuals affected by the tragedy, and recounts the attacker’s identity and course of legal proceedings. It emphasizes themes of faith, forgiveness, resilience, and the belief that evil does not have the final word. As a commemorative, non-binding resolution, it serves to honor victims, educate the public, and encourage reflection and remembrance rather than to create new law or policy or to authorize spending.

Key Points

1Commemoration of the tenth anniversary (June 17, 2025) of the June 17, 2015 Mother Emanuel AME Church shooting and the individuals affected.
2Names and biographical details of the victims are listed, including the Emanuel Nine and additional named victims (Polly Sheppard, Jennifer Pinckney, Felicia Sanders, and two minor children) as memorialized in the resolution.
3Summary of the legal aftermath: Dylann Roof was convicted in federal court on all 33 federal charges (including hate crimes) in 2016 and sentenced to death in 2017; in state court he pleaded guilty to murder and related charges and received multiple life-without-parole sentences.
4Spiritual framing: the resolution invokes biblical passages (Romans 8:28 and Matthew 18:21-22) to highlight forgiveness, faith, and the belief that the church’s legacy endures beyond the tragedy.
5Nature of the measure: a ceremonial, non-binding act by the Senate to honor victims and memory, with no new policy, regulatory authority, or funding attached.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected: Families and communities connected to the Emanuel AME Church and the Charleston, South Carolina faith community; African American religious communities; local residents and victims’ families.Secondary group/area affected: The broader national audience, including educators, faith groups, civil rights communities, and organizations focused on memorialization, anti-hate, and reconciliation.Additional impacts: Promotes remembrance and education about the tragedy, may inform commemorative events and interfaith or community dialogues; does not establish policy changes or allocate funds.

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