Activism
Alpha Kappa Alpha Member Sharonda Coleman-Singleton Killed In Charleston Shooting
Last night, a caucasian man in his early 20s walked into Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, a historic African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina, spent an hour in a prayer meeting, and then opened fire, killing nine people. Included in those killed was Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. member Rev. Sharonda Coleman-Singleton.
According to the New York Times, the shooter screamed, “I have to do it. You rape our women and you’re taking over our country. And you have to go,” before killing nine people and leaving three alive before escaping.
Soror Sharonda Coleman-Singleton was reverend at the church, according to the church’s web site. She had worked as a speech therapist for Berkeley County Pubic Schools since 2007 and has a son who is a two-sport standout in baseball and basketball and just finished his freshman season in Charleston Southern’s baseball program.
Fellow reverend, the Honorable Clementa C. Pinckney who happened to be a member of Alpha Phi Alpha was also killed by the shooter who is reportedly now in custody. (Click here to read his story) [UPDATE: A second member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Cynthia Graham-Hurd has also been announced dead.]
We at WatchTheYard.com have reached out to Alpha Kappa Alpha’s administration and are currently waiting on a statement. This is a horrible atrocity and we would urge all of you to keep the families of those affected, including the family of Soror Sharonda Coleman-Singleton and her sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpha in your prayers.
This was an act of terrorism.
Click on the arrows below to see more photos:
Susan Smith Ross
June 18, 2015 at 10:03 am
Prayers going up for the family, close sorors and friends of Soror Sharonda, whom we now identify as an Ivy Beyond the wall. Also praying for all families and friends affected by the senseless violence. And I pray for America. Don’t want to live anywhere else, but dang …
(By the way, hate to seem petty at a time like this — or any time — but this is one of my pet peeves. The shield pictured is not the Alpha Kappa Alpha crest. I wish I could make it go away …)
Cynthia R. Johnson
June 18, 2015 at 11:17 am
Prayers and Condolences to her family, friends and members of Alpha Kappa Alpha.
Onyx
June 18, 2015 at 12:22 pm
Sadness and tears.
Cynthia Gomes
June 18, 2015 at 3:14 pm
She is resting with the angels…their bible studies did not go unheard!
Antone Wilson
June 18, 2015 at 5:43 pm
So lovely. What a waste.