A $1 million bond for a weapons possession charge was set for murderer Dylann Roof on Juneteenth Independence Day
While some in the Black community celebrated Juneteenth Independence Day or “Freedom Day”, commemorating the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the Texas in June 1865 and more generally the emancipation of slaves throughout the Confederate South, the first court appearance of Dylann Roof, the man who committed the racially motivated murders of nine black men and women during Bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on Wednesday night.
Via a jailhouse video-link, Roof’s bond hearing took place with the families of the nine victims present. The hearing in Charleston took place as the Justice Department said it was investigating Wednesday’s shootings as a possible hate crime and an act of domestic terrorism. During an emotional dialog from the families, Roof’s trial was set for October 23rd; the same day The NAACP petitioned the United Nations, which rejected the appeal, to redress racial discrimination in the U.S. in 1947. Why haven’t we progressed in 2015?
On June 16, 1822 in Charleston, South Carolina, lead by Denmark Vesey, slaves planned an insurrectionary uprising against Charleston in the same AME church where the shooting of the nine took place Wednesday.
So how are the Denmark Vesey trial and Dylann Roof trial related aside from the location? The racism that existed in the 1800’s still exists today. The racially motivated crime, however, in this era was conducted by a white man, so the outcome is not execution by hanging; instead, Judge James Gosnell said he did not have the authority to set bail on the nine counts of murder against Roof.
We have victims, nine, but we also have victims on the other side. There are victims on this young man’s side of the family. We must find it in our hearts at some point in time not only to help those that are victims but to help his family as well.”
The families are forgiving of the suspect and his bond is set for $1 million, but will justice be served in this case? Since the emancipation of slaves throughout the Confederate South it seems not much has changed cause the Confederate flag is still flying high throughout The South as a mockery during the Juneteenth celebrations.
-Infinite Wiz(@InfiniteWiz)
