Faith leaders from across the City gathered Friday at Faith Temple on Maple Street to pay tribute to the nine people killed in a church shooting two weeks ago in Charleston, South Carolina.
Among those faith leaders was keynote speaker, Local Pastor and Mayor of Burlington, Shane McCampbell.
“I’ve come this evening to honor nine innocent people, not because they were black,” McCampbell said, “But because they were my brothers and sisters in Christ and they were taken away from us in an act of pure evilness and hatred.”
McCampbell said that the shooter, 21 year old Dylann Roof, violated a sacred space.
“One thing I remember about always being in Church was that I always felt safe,” said McCampbell, reflecting on his childhood, “And even now, in my time of need, I go to the Church. It was not the case for the nine people in South Carolina.”
McCampbell was joined by Rev. Fred Starling of Faith Temple, Pastor Brice Hughes of Zion United Church of Christ, Patricia Cashman of Christ Episcopal Church, Fred Sean of the Burlington NAACP, and Burlington Police Sgt. Chad Zahn, among others. Nine candles were lit to symbolize the nine killed.
