Rev. Sharon Risher on fighting for gun reform amid personal tragedy INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Reverend Sharon Risher has turned an unimaginable tragedy into a life mission to advocate for change. The minister and activist shared her powerful story during Franklin College’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration, emphasizing themes of forgiveness, faith, and the fight against racism. Risher’s life was forever changed on June 17, 2015, when a gunman opened fire at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. The young white supremacist killed nine Black worshippers, including Risher’s mother, Ethel Lance, and two of her cousins. “They had just finished a meeting and were continuing with Bible study. They even invited him to join,” Risher said. “But as they stood in prayer, holding hands, he pulled out a weapon and began to slaughter nine people.” The massacre was aimed at striking Black Americans in one of their most sacred spaces, she said. “What better place to wound Black people than to kill them in a church?” Risher said. Although nearly ten years have passed, the pain remains fresh for Risher, who was living in Dallas, Texas, at the time of the shooting. “I’ll always honor them, always call their names, and let America know we must move beyond racism and white supremacy,” she said. A voice for gun safety and forgiveness Risher has since become a vocal advocate for gun safety laws, channeling her grief into activism. However, her work extends beyond gun control. She also speaks out against the death penalty, even for Dylann Roof, the man convicted of the Emanuel AME Church massacre. “My heart couldn’t allow me to support his execution—or anyone else’s. God is a forgiving God who can redeem anybody. We can’t decide whose crime is worse than someone else’s,” Risher said. Risher’s perspective is rooted in her deep faith and conviction, even if her stance is controversial. “Commuting a sentence to life in prison is already a death sentence. Why kill the physical body?” she said. Risher emphasized that her opposition to the death penalty isn’t just about Roof, “This is bigger than him.” Find purpose in pain Despite her sorrow, Risher found purpose in sharing her story and advocating for change. She chronicled her journey in a book that dives deeper into her experiences and her message of forgiveness and persistence. “God has given me a new purpose. I’ll continue to honor the lives lost and work toward a better world,” Risher said. For more information on Reverend Risher’s work or to learn about gun safety advocacy and anti-racism efforts, click here.