jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone point out any media outlets ... or even DCUM posters for that matter ... that are denying this was racially motivated? I see that being thrown around like a straw man - to imply that whites don't acknowledge racism, I guess - but I don't actually see anyone denying this was a hate crime.

Forgive me for not reading 30 pages of this thread ... just the last 5 or 6 pages include numerous assertions that people are somehow denying the racial element here ... though those assertions are usually in posts related to genetic deficiencies and 'crazy ass white boys' so I suppose I should take them with a grain of salt.

Here is another clueless Republican presidential candidate. This time, Jeb Bush. Roof tells the victims he is going to kill them because they are black and confesses to police that he hoped to start a race war. Here is what Bush says:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/19/jeb-bush-charleston_n_7621438.html

"I don't know what was on the mind or the heart of the man who committed these atrocious crimes," the former Florida governor said at the Faith & Freedom Coalition conference.

From the article:

UPDATE, 6/19, 12:05 p.m. -- The Huffington Post asked Jeb Bush on Friday whether the shooting was racially motivated. "It was a horrific act and I don't know what the background of it is, but it was an act of hatred," Bush said.

Asked again whether the shooting was because of race, Bush added, "I don't know. Looks like to me it was, but we'll find out all the information. It's clear it was an act of raw hatred, for sure. Nine people lost their lives, and they were African-American. You can judge what it is."

Not sure how making a statement and calling the crimes atrocious is clueless. Then when more facts came out about it being racially motivated he said "Looks like to me it was".

No where is he making excuses or denying this. He isn't even bringing up the mentally ill aspect. He is calling it out as horrific, which it was.

I think you are just looking to point fingers at republicans here.

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone point out any media outlets ... or even DCUM posters for that matter ... that are denying this was racially motivated? I see that being thrown around like a straw man - to imply that whites don't acknowledge racism, I guess - but I don't actually see anyone denying this was a hate crime.

Forgive me for not reading 30 pages of this thread ... just the last 5 or 6 pages include numerous assertions that people are somehow denying the racial element here ... though those assertions are usually in posts related to genetic deficiencies and 'crazy ass white boys' so I suppose I should take them with a grain of salt.

Here is another clueless Republican presidential candidate. This time, Jeb Bush. Roof tells the victims he is going to kill them because they are black and confesses to police that he hoped to start a race war. Here is what Bush says:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/19/jeb-bush-charleston_n_7621438.html

"I don't know what was on the mind or the heart of the man who committed these atrocious crimes," the former Florida governor said at the Faith & Freedom Coalition conference.

Anonymous wrote:Not surprised by the judges remarks. This is South Carolina and the judge he's an old white male.

I'm not sure what to make of this.

I think the judge went above and beyond in handling this, maybe even to detriment of the case - did I miss something?

Anonymous wrote:Shame on the judge for making those remarks as if we should be sorry for the suspects parents. He did not need to make those statements while there were family members of the deceased in the courtroom.

You all don’t get it. These people who have lost loved ones are people of faith. In fact, Charleston has an abundance of people of faith. These people understand repentance and the need for forgiveness. The families of the victims would be some of the first to take the parents of this killer in their arms and mourn with them. Did you not hear these family members tell the killer that they forgive them and hope he seeks God love? The family members are in such pain, but they are God-fearing people who know how hate can eat them up. And, by the way, the judge did NOT ask people to feel sorry for the parents - he said they need support.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shame on the judge for making those remarks as if we should be sorry for the suspects parents. He did not need to make those statements while there were family members of the deceased in the courtroom.

Especially since the dad armed him

No, it turns out that was incorrect. He purchased the gun himself.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/19/us/charleston-church-shooting-main/

Thanks!

Not surprised by the judges remarks. This is South Carolina and the judge he's an old white male.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Shame on the judge for making those remarks as if we should be sorry for the suspects parents. He did not need to make those statements while there were family members of the deceased in the courtroom.

Especially since the dad armed him

No, it turns out that was incorrect. He purchased the gun himself.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/19/us/charleston-church-shooting-main/

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The bit about Dylann Roof almost not going through with it because the victims were so kind to him breaks me apart. I take solace though, in knowing in their last moments they were projecting kindness and empathy, maybe even prayer and forgiveness.

Better people than me, for sure.

i was in the gym when i saw this and was near tears...again. he knows right from wrong and still did it. i wish they'd just killed him or he took his own life. now these families and this community will have to endure "justice".

This will be important if they try to go with an insanity defense.

Anonymous wrote:Shame on the judge for making those remarks as if we should be sorry for the suspects parents. He did not need to make those statements while there were family members of the deceased in the courtroom.

Especially since the dad armed him

Anonymous wrote:Shame on the judge for making those remarks as if we should be sorry for the suspects parents. He did not need to make those statements while there were family members of the deceased in the courtroom.

There are already comments that the judge went way out of bounds on both sides here. Especially having victim impact statements, highly unusual.

Don't give the defense any fuel!

Shame on the judge for making those remarks as if we should be sorry for the suspects parents. He did not need to make those statements while there were family members of the deceased in the courtroom.

Anonymous wrote:The bit about Dylann Roof almost not going through with it because the victims were so kind to him breaks me apart. I take solace though, in knowing in their last moments they were projecting kindness and empathy, maybe even prayer and forgiveness.

Better people than me, for sure.

i was in the gym when i saw this and was near tears...again. he knows right from wrong and still did it. i wish they'd just killed him or he took his own life. now these families and this community will have to endure "justice".

I hope he takes a life without parole plea agreement so that the victims and the community don't have to go though a gut wrenching trial.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone else watching Roof's arraignment hearing getting chills?

Oh my god the victims daughter giving Roof her forgiveness and wanting god to have mercy on his soul. I can't handle anymore today.

Thanks for posting. I managed to catch the end of it. I have to say it gave me pleasure to watch his face knowing he had to listen to people talk about their loved ones and forgive him.

The confession and the victims impact statements during the arraignment hearing worry me. I want everything to be done by the book, so there is no room for anything to be thrown out or given appeal.