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World News

US church which forgave alleged shooter "nominated for Nobel prize"

The Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, has apparently been recommended for the prestigious award by a group of Illinois politicians.

It's claimed the nomination was inspired by the church's decision to promptly forgive the white supremacist Dylann Roof, who is accused of committing the killings last June.

Most popular Peace Prize Laureates*

1. Martin Luther King Jr.
2. Malala Yousafzai
3. Jane Addams
4. Mother Teresa
5. Nelson Mandela
6. Elie Wiesel
7. Theodore Roosevelt
8. Rigoberta Menchú Tum
9. Kailash Satyarthi
10. Albert Schweitzer

*Nobelprize.org

The supervisor for Thornton Township, Frank Zuccarelli, is quoted as saying to WBBM-TV: "If anyone was responsible for promoting the peace, it was Mother Emanuel and the church leadership.

"They demonstrated more love, peace and forgiveness than we have ever seen before... They are a great example for us all to follow."

A petition on the Thornton Township website supporting the Nobel Peace Prize nomination said: "In some other city, an incident of such hatred and racist horror might have sparked an outpouring of anger, violence and divisiveness - driving crowds into the streets in clashes with each other and police.

"Instead, something unexpected happened — an outpouring of unity and forgiveness.

"The entire community of Charleston - church, ordinary citizens, political leaders, business leaders and law enforcement, came together to support those families who lost loved ones.

"They came together in a spirit of forgiveness, love and peace — not anger or hatred."

Liz Alston, the Emanuel historian who contributed to the entry, told The Post and Courier: "The mere fact that the church is in the same realm as Mahatma Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr. is one of the highest honors.

"That our church contributed to peace in this world is just phenomenal, and it's unequaled in Charleston history."

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