At church targeted in racist mass shooting, Biden says white supremacy has 'no place in America'
Speaking at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C., President Biden said white supremacy has "no place in America. Not today, tomorrow or ever." The church was the site of a mass shooting in 2015 in which a white supremacist killed nine black worshippers.
Video Transcript
JOE BIDEN: On June 17, 2015, the beautiful souls five survivors-- of 5 survivors invited a stranger to enter this church, to pray with them. The word of God was pierced by bullets and hate, and rage. Propelled by, not just gunpowder, but by a poison. Poison that has for too long haunted this nation.
JOE BIDEN: What is that poison-- white supremacy. Oh, it is a poison-- throughout our history it has ripped this nation apart. This has no place in America-- not today, tomorrow, or ever. From that day, this nation saw this congregation, this community, demonstrate one of the greatest acts of strength I have ever seen. I mean it sincerely from the bottom of-- the act of forgiveness the act of grace.
JOE BIDEN: It was as President Obama sang from here, Amazing Grace. It changed hearts, he did something that may not have happened but for your courage. You brought down the Confederate flag in South Carolina. You brought it down, no, you did.
[APPLAUSE]
JOE BIDEN: And you helped the nation heal. You showed what America can overcome, what we can be when we want to be something.
