The most amazing thing has been the public reaction of the victims' families, who have, as they say, refused to let the mass murders push them into hatred. Instead of calling for revenge, or even "justice," they offered forgiveness. It is the strongest affirmation of nonviolence I have ever heard.
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NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: A woman holds a candle during an interfaith candlelight vigil in solidarity with Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina outside Barclays Center on June 21, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Nine people were fatally shot inside the historic African American church on June 17. Suspect Dylann Roof, 21, has been arrested and charged in the killings, which were racially motivated. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 21: A woman holds a candle during an interfaith candlelight vigil in solidarity with Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina outside Barclays Center on June 21, 2015 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Nine people were fatally shot inside the historic African American church on June 17. Suspect Dylann Roof, 21, has been arrested and charged in the killings, which were racially motivated. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

Following the nine murders in Charleston, the most amazing thing has been the public reaction of the victims' families, who have, as they say, refused to let the mass murders push them into hatred. Instead of calling for revenge, or even "justice," they offered forgiveness. It is the strongest affirmation of nonviolence that I have ever heard.

Now all us white folks, listen carefully: The ball is in our court. It is up to us to get the guns off the street and to become nonviolent ourselves. If we're just bystanders and grievers, we're giving the support of silence to the racists among us.

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