On this June 19th – “Juneteenth,” the day African-Americans first learned of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865 – Family Institute of Connecticut expresses our condolences to the victims of the terrible shooting in Charleston, South Carolina.

We note in particular that this awful crime took place in a church. We condemn the crime as well as what appears to be the racist motivations behind the attack. FIC has a long history of standing with the black church, and we express our solidarity with the African-American community at this difficult moment.

Juneteenth is a day when some of our fellow Americans first learned they “henceforth shall be free.” The article linked to above describes the forgiveness offered to the alleged murderer by family members of the victims, an expression of Christian love. Their act is rooted in the deepest freedom of all.