North Las Vegas vigil for South Carolina church slayings becomes call to action

What started as a prayer vigil after the slaying of nine people at a Charleston, S.C., house of worship turned into a call to action Thursday at the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in North Las Vegas.

Nearly three dozen people, including government officials, police officers and church leaders, came together to talk about ways to unify the greater community in case a similar tragedy ever happens here.

Or more urgently, to prevent anything like that from happening here.

“We need to be proactive, not reactive,” said the Rev. Ralph E. Williamson, senior pastor of the North Las Vegas A.M.E. church at 2446 Revere St., just north of Carey Avenue and west of Interstate 15.

Williamson said the gathering was not just a response to Wednesday’s shooting, but to racial tension across the nation. He said community leaders have the responsibility to set up a strategy to unite people from every background.

The gathering included a cross-section of valley religious groups, from Baptists to Unitarians.

“We have a responsibility as people of faith to foster connections and love and hope against forces that lead to fear and hate,” said the Rev. Ian W. Riddell of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Las Vegas. “The fact that violence exists even in a sanctuary is terrifying.”

Joe Mitchell, special assistant to Las Vegas City Councilman Ricki Barlow, also addressed the group.

“We need to be more immersed as a government entity to help the community become stronger and more unified,” he said.

But Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada organizer Aurrelio “AJ” Buhay said his organization wants to do more than just talk about solutions.

“What are we going to do outside these walls?” Buhay said. “We need to start holding public officials responsible. We need to start making things happen for us, not waiting for someone to do it for us.”

Lydia Godje, director of Christian Education at the A.M.E. church in North Las Vegas agreed and said the community should come together by organizing a god-centered, community-involved “love fest.”

Las Vegas police officer Sgt. Kurt McKenzie said festivals such as February’s “Fight to Take Back the Streets” are already taking place, but with little community and church involvement.

“These things are being done, but we have to take the opportunity to be a part of these things,” McKenzie said. “You have to give us as much as we’re giving you.”

During the hymn “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior” at the A.M.E. church in North Las Vegas, congregants clapped and sang along, while others wiped away tears mourning the lives of those who died in the massacre Wednesday.

Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, founded in 1816, is the oldest of its denomination in the South. The church has survived an accusation of slave revolt, being burned down and being outlawed.

“Emmanuel A.M.E. Church was literally founded in a social justice movement,” Williamson said. “The whole focus was to have a church where African-Americans could worship.”

Jennifer Ellis, 40, and a member of the A.M.E. church in North Las Vegas, said she doesn’t understand what drove the gunman to kill parishioners in South Carolina, but considers it an act of “American terrorism.”

She said she no longer feels safe, even in a place meant to be a sanctuary.

“We’re always in A.M.E. meetings,” she said. “We always have our doors open. Are we really safe right now? We don’t lock our doors when we have our meetings. And everybody is invited. That’s the thing.”

Law enforcement officials Thursday arrested accused gunman Dylann Roof, 21, after a traffic stop in Shelby, N.C., about 220 miles north of Charleston.

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said her office was investigating whether to charge Roof, who is white, with a hate crime motivated by racism or other prejudice.

Contact Review-Journal writer Michelle Iracheta at 702-387-5205. Find her on Twitter: @cephira