On Wednesday night, a gunman opened fire at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Nine people total were killed. The man identified as the primary suspect in the shooting, Daryl Roof, was taken into custody by police in Shelby, N.C. on Thursday. Witnesses say Roof stood up in the church and said he was there "to shoot black people."
The tragedy in Charleston has stunned the nation and many politicians from the President of the United States to 2016 presidential candidates have expressed their sympathies and outrage on social media and other outlets. Here are some of those responses:
U.S. President Barack Obama
"Now is the time for mourning and healing, but let's be clear: At some point as a country, we have to reckon with the fact that this type of mass violence does not happen in other advanced countries. It is in our power to do something about it… I say this knowing the politics in this town foreclose a lot of those opportunities." - President Obama, 6/18/15
South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley
Michael, Rena, Nalin and I are praying for the victims and families touched by tonight's senseless tragedy at Emanuel... Posted by Nikki Haley on Wednesday, June 17, 2015
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (S.C.)
https://twitter.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/611543463461580800
U.S. Senator Tim Scott (S.C.)
https://twitter.com/SenatorTimScott/status/611400674442612736
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders
https://twitter.com/SenSanders/status/611538289774956544
Dr. Ben Carson
https://twitter.com/RealBenCarson/status/611536691673845760
Hillary Clinton
https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton/status/611392413945434112
U.S. Senator Rand Paul
https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/611485444086169600
Martin O'Malley
https://twitter.com/GovernorOMalley/status/611523793933213698
Jeb Bush
https://twitter.com/JebBush/status/611390576622202880
Photo Source: AP