EAM Episcopal church reopens doors for service 4 days after massacre

oge okonkwo

June 22, 2015 1:14 PM

Church attendees sang gospel songs as thousands more gathered outside to show their solidarity following the shooting

The Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, in the US city of South Carolina welcomed hundreds of people who came visiting after the church reopened its doors to worshippers, four days nine black church members were shot to death.

According to Al Jazeera, Sunday morning marked the first worship service at the church since the 21-yr-old Roof sat among a Bible study group and opened fire on Wednesday after saying that he targeted them because they were black, authorities said.

"It has been tough, it's been rough, some of us have been downright angry, but through it all God has sustained us and has encouraged us," said the Reverend Norvel Goff, who was appointed pastor to replace Rev. Clementa Pinckney, a state politician, who was among those people killed.

Al Jazeera reporter Gabriel Elizondo described a "very emotional" church service in Charleston attended by an estimated 2,000 people.

Church attendees sang gospel songs as thousands more gathered outside to show their solidarity following the shooting.

"They are trying to do the best out of a very difficult situation," our correspondent said.

Outside the church, the oldest African-American congregation in the southern US, bouquets, bears and balloons covered the pavement while hundreds of people lined up to mourn, sing hymns and leave memorials.

One of the victims, Rev. Clementa Pinckney, will be buried on Friday, June 26. The funeral will be held at TD Arena on the College of Charleston campus, a funeral home spokesperson confirmed the details to The State newspaper.

oge okonkwo