It’s not every day you get to walk in the footsteps of giants. Rarer still is being able to do so with them. Thanks to the Faith and Politics Institute’s pilgrimage to Alabama last weekend, that’s exactly what I got to do.
Prayer and politics in Congress
How prayer meetings on Capitol Hill inspire fellowship and foster bipartisan lawmaking, though some argue it is too much religion under the rotunda.
MEDIA ADVISORY | Family Members of Charleston Shooting Victims, Members of Congress Gather at U.S. Capitol to Reflect on South Carolina Civil Rights Pilgrimage, Remember Emanuel Nine and Survivors
MEDIA ADVISORY
July 12, 2016
Family Members of Charleston Shooting Victims, Members of Congress Gather at U.S. Capitol to Reflect on South Carolina Civil Rights Pilgrimage, Remember Emanuel Nine and Survivors
July 13 Event Features Panel Discussion & Documentary of South Carolina Civil Rights Pilgrimage
WASHINGTON – On July 13th, the Faith and Politics Institute will hold an event at the U.S. Capitol that brings together bipartisan, bicameral members of Congress, survivors and family members of victims of the tragic shooting at Mother Emanuel AME church in Charleston, South Carolina one year ago that claimed the lives of nine people practicing their faith.
Following a bipartisan congressional civil rights pilgrimage to South Carolina in March, the event will premiere the documentary of the pilgrimage and feature a panel discussion that reflects on the lessons of that experience, honors the Charleston shooting victims and explores the next steps to move the country toward racial reconciliation.
U.S. House of Representatives Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (D-SC), U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and FPI President Joan Mooney will co-host the event and lead the panel discussion with Melvin Graham, Nadine Collier and Alana Simmons, victims’ family members who participated in the pilgrimage. Attending the event, along with members of Congress and civil rights luminaries, will be Mrs. Polly Sheppard and Mrs. Felicia Sanders, two survivors of the Emanuel AME massacre. Civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis will also attend along with dozens of members of Congress.
From March 18th-20th, the Faith and Politics Institute led a bipartisan congressional delegation, students and seminarians on a pilgrimage that visited historic civil rights sites in Columbia, Orangeburg and Charleston culminating in a Palm Sunday worship service at Mother Emanuel AME Church.
To view a trailer for the pilgrimage documentary, visit The Faith & Politics Institute YouTube page.
Wednesday July 13, 2016
What: Post South Carolina Civil Rights Pilgrimage & One Year After Charleston Massacre – U.S. Capitol Event to Remember Emanuel Nine, Advance the National Dialogue on Race
Who: U.S. House of Representatives Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (D-SC), U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and FPI President Joan Mooney co-host and lead a panel discussion on the Pilgrimage to South Carolina and screen a short documentary.
Special Guests: Mrs. Polly Sheppard and Mrs. Felicia Sanders, two survivors of the Charleston Massacre, and family members of the victims who participated in the March Pilgrimage.
When: 6:00pm – Short Documentary, Panel Discussion (Media must arrive no later than 5:45pm)
Where: U.S. Capitol Visitor Center – Congressional Auditorium
The invite-only event is open to media. Please RSVP to josh.taylor@faithandpolitics.org. For more information, visit The Faith and Politics Institute at www.faithandpolitis.org or Twitter and Facebook.
Due to the brevity of the program, no questions from audience will be entertained. Members of Congress and victims' family members can be asked questions after the event by media.
Emanuel AME shooting survivors on South Africa civil rights pilgrimage
Two survivors of the Emanuel AME Church shooting are in South Africa on a civil rights pilgrimage with the Washington-based Faith & Politics Institute that includes a stop at the prison where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years.
Members of Congress take part in a civil rights pilgrimage to South Carolina this weekend
NPR NEWS
Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to SC culminates Sunday
The Faith and Politics Institute will lead a bipartisan Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina on March 18-20, 2016. A delegation of up to three dozen members of Congress will take part in a journey that explores the unique role of faith and the civil rights history of South Carolina.
Jim Clyburn, Tim Scott lead congressional S.C. civil-rights pilgrimage
A bipartisan congressional delegation launched a civil rights tour of South Carolina on Friday, kicking off events at the Zion Baptist Church in Columbia.
Pilgrimage will give Congressional leaders closer look at SC’s faith, civil rights history
Friday is the start of a three-day Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina, exploring the role of faith and civil rights history in South Carolina.
A bipartisan delegation of 14 Congressional members, led by Democratic U.S. House Rep. Jim Clyburn and Republican U.S. Sens. Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham, all of South Carolina, and U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, will visit historical sites in Columbia, Orangeburg and Charleston as part of the event, presented by the Faith and Politics Institute. In all, about 200 will be part of the pilgrimage – students, seminarians, local leaders and faithful annual pilgrims.
MEDIA ADVISORY | Bipartisan Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina March 18-20
MEDIA ADVISORY March 17, 2016
Bipartisan Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina March 18-20
Explores Legacy of Civil Rights & Impact of Charleston Shooting on State & Nation
WASHINGTON – The Faith and Politics Institute’s 2016 Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage to South Carolina will take place from March 18-20 making stops in Columbia, Orangeburg and Charleston. A bipartisan delegation of 14 members of Congress, including leaders from both political parties, will be led by U.S. House of Representatives Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (D-SC), U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and civil rights movement icon U.S. Representative John Lewis (D-GA).
The pilgrimage will explore the unique role of faith and the civil rights history of South Carolina. The delegation will also discuss the impact of the 2015 shooting at Mother Emanuel AME Church on the community, South Carolina and nation. Local leaders in Columbia, Orangeburg and Charleston, survivors of the tragic shooting and family members of the victims will participate in the pilgrimage, which culminates in a Palm Sunday worship service at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.
MEDIA AVAILABILITIES
Media briefings will be held each day. Events are otherwise closed to press and public. For security purposes, media should arrive early to receive credentials. RSVP to josh.taylor@faithandpolitics.org. In case of rain, alternate locations will be utilized.
BACKGROUND
The spirit of forgiveness and grace exhibited by family members of those killed at Charleston’s Emanuel AME Church June 17, 2015 temporarily transformed the political dynamics surrounding race, history, and historical memory in South Carolina and across the nation.
How can appreciation of such grace lead to sufficient political will for an equally transformative and sustained public response expanding racial healing and reconciliation in America today? The Faith & Politics Institute’s 2016 Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimage comes to Charleston seeking a hopeful and encouraging answer to that question.
In the wake of the massacre, the faith and courage demonstrated by the survivors, members of the victims’ families and the Mother Emanuel AME church allowed the nation to witness the power of love and forgiveness, which holds open the door to increased understanding and reconciliation.
On this special journey, many who led the civil rights movement and lived its history will lead efforts to support effective government by bringing members of Congress together in a spirit of openness, honesty and reconciliation across lines of race, religion and political affiliations for the purpose of working together in service to our nation and the world.
A bipartisan congressional delegation of fourteen members will also listen to the stories of civil rights luminaries, religious leaders and historians. Participants will also learn about South Carolina civil rights pioneers such as Septima Clark and about the 400-year old Gullah Geechee cultural heritage. The delegation is scheduled to visit such historic sites as Zion and Brookland Baptist Churches and that of the Orangeburg massacre where three students were killed on February 8, 1968 while demonstrating against segregation.
Since 1998, The Faith and Politics Institute has led annual bipartisan Congressional Civil Rights Pilgrimages to five southern states affording hundreds of members of the U.S. House and Senate an experiential journey through the American civil rights movement as well as international trips. Described by some members as one of the most valuable experiences of their time in Congress, the bipartisan pilgrimages offer opportunities for engaged and reflective dialogue that transcends politics.
For more information, contact The Faith and Politics Institute at (202) 546-1299 or email info@faithandpolitics.org. For media queries, please email josh.taylor@faithandpolitics.org.
Visit The Faith and Politics Institute at www.faithandpolitics.org and on Twitter and Facebook.
Lawmakers To Visit Charleston To Promote Racial Reconciliation
Democrat Rep. Jim Clyburn and Republican Sen. Tim Scott, both of South Carolina, are among several lawmakers visiting Emanuel AME church to promote racial understanding.