Attorney General Loretta Lynch announced at a Department of Justice press conference on Wednesday that Dylann Roof will face federal hate crime charges. (Photo: Screenshot)
Jul 22, 2015
Dylann Roof, the suspect in the killings of nine black men and women at Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina last month, was indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday on 33 federal counts, including hate crime charges and a charge of killing someone while obstructing religious freedom.
Some of those counts carry the death penalty, although U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who announced the charges, did not say whether the federal government would pursue capital punishment.
Roof also faces nine counts of murder in state court and could be sentenced to the death penalty there. But South Carolina does not have hate crime laws, and the brutal and racist nature of the murders prompted an investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Authorities from those agencies have previously called the attack "racially motivated."
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Nadia Prupis
Nadia Prupis is a former Common Dreams staff writer. She wrote on media policy for Truthout.org and has been published in New America Media and AlterNet. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in English in 2008.
Dylann Roof, the suspect in the killings of nine black men and women at Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina last month, was indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday on 33 federal counts, including hate crime charges and a charge of killing someone while obstructing religious freedom.
Some of those counts carry the death penalty, although U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who announced the charges, did not say whether the federal government would pursue capital punishment.
Roof also faces nine counts of murder in state court and could be sentenced to the death penalty there. But South Carolina does not have hate crime laws, and the brutal and racist nature of the murders prompted an investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Authorities from those agencies have previously called the attack "racially motivated."
Nadia Prupis
Nadia Prupis is a former Common Dreams staff writer. She wrote on media policy for Truthout.org and has been published in New America Media and AlterNet. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in English in 2008.
Dylann Roof, the suspect in the killings of nine black men and women at Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina last month, was indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday on 33 federal counts, including hate crime charges and a charge of killing someone while obstructing religious freedom.
Some of those counts carry the death penalty, although U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who announced the charges, did not say whether the federal government would pursue capital punishment.
Roof also faces nine counts of murder in state court and could be sentenced to the death penalty there. But South Carolina does not have hate crime laws, and the brutal and racist nature of the murders prompted an investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Authorities from those agencies have previously called the attack "racially motivated."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.