justices had two questions before them the first, whether the american constitution permits states to prohibit same-sex marriage, the second, whether states must recognize gay unions conducted in other parts of the country. politicians and religious leaders had been defending the bans in the name of state rights, and also the freedom of religion needs to be protected. >> we deeply love our neighbor, but at the same time deeply loving and caring for should not carry the burden of endorsement. >> i understand the religious argument, but that's their religious belief. and the question is should someone else's religious belief dictate my legal rights? >> reporter: they believe despite the supreme court issuing a decision today on this

particular issue, given the strongly-held views on both sides, the debate over same-sex marriage in the united states will continue. kimberly halkett al jazeera, cleveland, ohio. >> back to alan fisher outside of the u.s. supreme court. when does this ruling actually come into effect, alan? >> reporter: gay couples have already started getting married. they put the papers in it was held because a number of states were appealing against the decision that they had to allow gay marriage and after the verdict was announce that meant that everyone had to be treated equally. there are obviously some voices of dissent, particularly among those who are running for the republican party for president.

now you can get married in the military. if the chaplain refuses on religious grounds, that's okay. somebody else can carry out the ceremony. perhaps the most historic issue from the supreme court since 1967 when the supreme court ruled that interracial marriage was not illegal. this is a hugely significant day, and the hundreds of people who have gathered are going to be there for a while as they soak in this atmosphere. >> alan thank you. ♪ still lots more to come on the program, including the bridge that's a lifeline for iraqis fleeing the fighting in anbar province. and we'll meet the women of southern philippines and find out more about their dream to keep the tradition of weaving

alive. ♪

[ cheers and applause ] a stunning moment at the supreme court, the justices in a 5-4 ruling legalize same-sex marriage nationwide. and mourning in charleston the city pauses to mourn a pastor gunned down at the emanual ame church president obama will deliver the eulogy. ♪ this is al jazeera america, live from new york city. i'm tony harris we are covering two major stories today. take a look at these live

picture from charleston south carolina where the funeral is taking place right now for fast for and state senator, clementa pinckney. he was murdered inside the emanual ame church along with eight others. but first the ground breaking rules from the supreme court legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. president obama said today, we have quote, made our union a little more perfect. our adam may has been at the supreme court since this decision came down taking in a lot of reaction. saddam set that scene from any the steps there at the supreme court. i imagine there are still some people maybe not directly behind you, but people still celebrating. >> reporter: there are people still celebrating, yes. now you have the regular d.c. tourists but it seems as if many of them have joined in on the celebration taking

pictures. it was a monumental scene when the decision came down at 10:00, and everybody was alerted to their phones and overtwitter. hundreds of people erupted in applauses and screams, and people started to break out in patriotic songs. and among them was the named plaintiff in the case. he was the one named plaintiff. this is an individual from ohio. married his long time partner in maryland when he was ill. went back to ohio that marriage was not recognized. his partner died a few months later, and the marriage was never recognized in ohio. they brought the case all the way here and afterwards he was practically speechless by what he saw unfold. >> change can happen. this country can move forward, take the steps that we all want

to truly feel like equal citizens and it really can happen because of one or two people. i never thought that really was possible, but i have learned. my love for john and his love for me it gave us the strength to say this isn't right, it isn't just and we're going to try to make a change and we did. >> reporter: i asked jim what he thought john would think about this moment unfolding leer today, and he said john would probably be the quiet one in the background and he would have out here in front. this could, you know, impact people in so many different states, doneny. many state still do not recognize same-sex marriages. we saw news that marriage licenses are starting to be issued in some of those states. and people still out celebrating. a lot of folks just taking in this amazing news.

>> my understanding is that marriage licenses are being granted in alabama. so adam here is my question among the people you have been speaking with today, is there a sense that this settles the matter of same-sex marriage in the country, or are there other fights to be fought to be waged? is there more war to do? >> that's a great question tony, and i talked to the president of the human rights campaign, the lead group that has been pushing for marriage equality here in the country, and they said they don't anticipate any big problems. they think the marriages will continue, but they did say that this opens up new questions about what is next in the gay rights movement. he said for example, you could have someone that would take a picture, and post it on facebook of their marriage and a couple of hours they be fired from their jobs and evented from their housing because there is a

lack of anti-discrimination laws. the lbgt caucus said they are working on sweeping protections for the community. >> adam thank you. randall pinkston is at the white house for us and randall, look we got a pretty rare glimpse at the president preparing his remarks there the oval office. this was clearly a major decision that supported a position that he took not that long ago. there was the conversion for this president, wasn't there? >> there certainly was, tony and we must point out the remarks the president was prepared we think had more to do with his eulogy this afternoon, rather than the statement that he did issue in the rose garden which was extemporaneous. the president came to the white house six and a half years ago.

he wasn't exactly what we would call a huge supporter of same-sex marriage. you could even say he had not made his position known, and he talked about it in terms of it being a relationship between a man and a woman, but the president did evolve. he did change his point of view publicly and of course in terms of the actionsover his administration, and he spoke in the rose garden passionately and at length about this historic decision from the supreme court, indicating that real change is possible. >> we are a people who believe that every single child is entitled to life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. there's so much more work to be done to ensure the promise of every american, but today we can say in no uncertain terms that we have made our union a little more perfect. >> reporter: the president said

when all americans are treated equally, we are all more equal. tony? >> what else are we hearing from the white house. you mentioned the video we saw earlier, was probably the president preparing for his characters in charleston. when is the president -- maybe you can help us out with his schedule here -- expected arrive in charleston to offer the eulogy for reverend and state senator pinckney. >> reporter: it's our understanding that the president will beginning his eulogy as about 1:30, 1:45. he left about two hours ago from andrew's air force base. we spoke to the communications director who talked about the excitement and applause being heard in the halls of the white house and the west wing when

the decision was announced today. >> the president has already taken a number of steps. obviously he took steps to end don't ask don't tell. he took steps to make sure that gay, lesbian, and transgender couples could visit their partners in hospitals to receive benefits. obviously there were steps the military has taken. but this is also about couples being able to receive marriage certifications, so that's a huge step forward. >> reporter: and the president said this ruling by the supreme court today is a victory for the plaintiffs, for gay and lesbian couples, their families and all of america. >> reporter: randall pinkston appreciate it thing you. the decision brought cheers for gay men and lesbians across the country.

>> yes! [ cheers and applause ] [ laughter ] >> well there you have it the reaction from the plaintiffs from michigan. the governor is pledging to comply with the ruling and many of the other 13 states where same-sex marriage was not already legal, well they are starting to hand out licenses. the u.s. is now one of 21 country now that allow same-sex marriage. let's go to roxana saberi who joins us from outside the famous stone wall inn in new york city. tell me why that location behind you, the stone wall inn significant in the gay rights movement? >> reporter: well tony it is widely considered the birthplace of the gay rights movement. back in 1969 this was one of the only places where gay people

could socialize. and on that night police tried to raid the bar, and that turned into riots. that gave people courage to call for more riots, and that's why so many people are here celebrating. >> okay. we can barely hear you above the siren, so what has been the reaction to the court's decision there? >> reporter: well it's been very celebratory -- there they are cooperating. when we were out here earlier today, when the supreme court declared that same-sex marriages are legal, we heard clapping and cheering. and you can see in the crowd, lots of people from around the u.s. and world are here celebrating. we have seen hugging, kissing. we have seen people crying. and after the bar opened a couple of hours ago, people went

inside and started drinking. we have spoken to a number of people here one of them with kat kathy thomas. >> this is a really big win. it's very emotional. it means that my wife of 23 years and i can share in our retirement benefits and social security benefits and feel like a supported family by our government. it's a proud day to be an american. >> reporter: so we'll be here throughout the day, tony. there is going to be a rally in a few hours. and we'll report that too. >> all right. roxana saberi out in front of the historic stone wall inn. i think that's the west village in manhattan here. roxana appreciate it. let's get you to melissa chin live in san francisco. and tell us about the reaction there that you have witnessed.

>> reporter: tony on the steps of city hall we had the mayor come out and talk about this moment this equality without exception. that's where we are today. and lieutenant governor gavin newsom always was speaking. he was then major of san francisco back in 2004, and started issuing those marriage certificates at the time it was considered so fringe even for a democrat to do and captured national attention. look where we are now today. newsom just told al jazeera he thought this was going to take 70 years, not 10 years, and he himself is still reeling from this news tony. >> melissa one more for you, the decision comes as the city is preparing for what is going to be a huge pride weekend. talk to us about that for a moment. >> reporter: well, you have a lot of out of towners.

this is one of the biggest pride parades in the country on sunday, so we really do expect later this evening, we're going toe be heading to the castro hub in the city it's going to be rocking, and partying. people are already out celebrating. we expect them to party straight through the entire weekend, tony. >> all right. melissa thank you. up next on the program, mourning in south carolina. take a look at the memorial service underway now for reverend clemente pinckney. i believe there is [ inaudible ] middleson who is speaking now, kkylan middleton. we'll come back and have more from this service underway right now.

take a look at the -- this

is the td arena, where the funeral service is happening right now for state senator pinckney reverend pinckney religious leaders, political leaders, all on hand. reverend clemente pinckney was one of nine killed at the emanual ame church shooting. let's go back to the arena on the college of charleston campus. as we do let's bring in our del walters. he is in charleston and if you would, del, set the scene. i know people have been gathering to try to get into that arena for hours this morning, and the service is now well underway. >> reporter: the tony has been underway since 11:00. i heard one person say they have a little church going on up

there. there are several pastors speaking and several family members of the victim have been speaking. gunmen have killed 28 people at a popular tourist resort in tunisia. the attackers opened fire on tourists to a beach connecting to hotels. >> -- nines day ago was not going to change south carolina or their spirit. there are banners up that say the wrong church, wrong people wrong day. and jesse jackson pointed out that the flag flying over the coffin was also the wrong flag. >> this massacre that took place in the church, [ inaudible ] people's expectations are much

higher even than they were 50 years ago, and now you see in charleston this outpouring of joy and pain as opposed to a riotous move. and that's a good thing. the flag coming down as the blood stained [ inaudible ] goes up is a good thing. but [ inaudible ] not just a flag. >> reporter: reverend jackson saying that not since the sweltering summer of 1968 has he seen so much movement so much change in the civil rights movement in this country, somebody else who would know that is a propress or of political science in charleston where president obama will be speaking in a few minutes. you are a son of the south, have you seen anything like this? >> it's unbelievable. every political leader has called for the removal of the flag. we think of public opinion not changing that quickly, and there

has been a sea change since the tragedy. >> reporter: as a son of the south, and a person who lives in this city when you heard of nine people being shot were you afraid that charleston was going to burn? >> i felt like after the walter scott shooting and the way that the community came together and the way that things were reasonably peaceful i sort of expected the same. there is such a commitment to faith in the white and black community -- >> reporter: but we have heard those words so many times before, after all this is a place where there is a slave market, where they have tours going through right now. what makes this south different than that south? >> this is the new south. this is the south without the confederate flag. we're starting to talk about these issues starting to talk about the confederate statutes and the names of streets in a

way we weren't before. >> reporter: the last time president obama was here it was as a senator, he was running for president seven and a half years ago. what does he say today, what would be appropriate, what would be the words you want the president to say. >> certainly it is important to have these conversations, but as the governor said the best chance for moving forward is for southerners to sit down together and talk and have the conversations come within the region and not necessarily be demanded or called to the table from outside of the region. >> strom thurmond said segregation for this part of the world forever. his son stands up in front of the state senate and says what? >> he says not only should the flag come down but he said i'm

not proud of a lot of our history, and for somebody like paul thurman to stand up and say that, a white southerner was pretty amazing. >> reporter: thank you very much. tony i want to read a line from one of the children talking about her father at the funeral. she says i can't say at all you will be watching over me i love you, and love your baby girl and grasshopper, malana. tony nothing has overshadowed the fact that nine people lost their lives behind me. >> del, that is terrific stuff. we're joined by a professor of biblical interpretation. it is good to have you on the program. and we're going to take a break at the top of the hour and we'll come back when the

president arrives, but i want your thoughts on any number of things here. reverend jackson says he hasn't seen this much movement in civil rights since 1968. i guess i just want your thoughts on this day, and what you have been thinking since this horrible incident occurred a week ago. >> yeah let me say first. i'm a visiting scholar of the university -- >> good note. >> and your question again. >> well, what are your thoughts since this happened last wednesday, and here we have what is a beautifully attends service today in charleston. >> i agree with reverend william barber, he says the perpetrator has been caught but the killer is still at large. and i'm greatly saddened but angry as well not at that young

21-year-old child who shot those people, but for all of those who have been spewing hate for all of those years, and are using president obama to heighten the hatred on the right-wing. they have blood on their hands. hannity, limbaugh those people have blood on their hands, those who insult the president on television. those who like o'reilly are always demonizing black people -- >> they would probably push back and say they are being critical of policies not the man. >> you know -- >> what would you say? >> look there have been too many racial lies and insults towards the president. you call him a liar in front of the world. point your finger in his face. his daughters are called whores when they were just little girls, and people pick up on

that. and then they hear that obama is taking over the country. that's what that young boy said we're taking over. if that were only true we would feel a lot better. so i'm deeply saddened. i knew one of the people that was murdered wonderful man. i'm deeply saddened and i'm glad to see the flag coming down, but we cannot act like the work is done. >> boy, let's continue our conversation we'll take a break at the top of the hour and get back to our colleagues in london, but we'll certainly come back to hear the president's eulogy at the funeral services today. again, the funeral well underway in charleston south carolina. and the news continues next live from london. i'm tony harris. second the message that it can't be defeated. and we have had some sad news here at al jazeera in the past few hours.

one of our cameramen has been >> challenge the way you look at the world. >> talking about big subjects. >> telling human stories. >> rising waters taking their toll... we go to the threatened marshall islands... to talk to the peole affected most >> is there a plan? >> bold... >> he took two m-16's, and he crawled... >> brave... >> ...do what you gotta do... >> then betrayed... >> why do you think you didn't get the medal of honor? >> a lifetime without the honor they deserved... >> some say that it was discrimination... >> revealing the long painful fight, to recognize

some of america's bravest... >> he say.. be cool...be cool... >> ...proudest moment in my life.. >> honor delayed a soledad o'brien special report only on al jazeera america hello there. this is the news hour live from london. coming up dozens of tourists are shot dead as gunmen target a beachside hotel in