some of the incredible power that we have seen here: and that is -- we are seeing that here again tonight. more songs here. our coverage continues with cnn's don lemon. don? >> anderson, thank you very much. an amazing scene here today. this is "cnn tonight" i'm don lemon. relative avenue relative.

tonight, we're going to talk to two brothers who can't call their sister vain. i want to go to sonny hosta now. we have been together all day, sonny. we went to the library for one of the victims. they held a service of sorts. but just to watch the crowds. i had a feel iing that it was goirng to build on a friday night. it's such a diverse crowd. >> i've been around communities as a prosecutor communities that have experienced tragedy and sadness and grief. i can tell you, i've never seen a community react this way with forgiveness, with hope, coming together like this. but everyone has been affected by this. i had the opportunity to speak to a charleston police officer. he was one of the first responders.

he was almost in tears describing what he saw into the church and saw the bodies of elderly people being shot. >> and when people say thank you for being here and telling the story. >> yes, i also get thank you for being my voice. it's just been a remarkable evening. so many people are still out there. as we look at what's happening here, we want to tell you what happened in the courtroom today.

that hearing expressing shock and out rage. >> we have victims, many of them. but we also have victims on the other side. there are victims on this young man's side of the family. we must find it in our heart that at some point in time, not only to help those that are victims, but to also help his family, as well. >> and the judge directly addressing the encluzed shooter. speaking publicly for the first time, ruth didn't even say ten words, listen. >> mr. ruth, is your address

10428 in eastover south carolina. is it? >> yes, sir. >> what is your age? >> 21: >> you're 21 years. are you employed? >> no, sir. >> you're unemployed at this time? >> yes, sir. but it was the words, the words of the family members as they pointed out anger and forgiveness, as well. i would never be able to hold her again. but i forgive you. >> you know, i forgive you. my family forgive you. but we would like you to take this opportunity to repent. give your life to the one who matters the most. christ.

we welcome you wednesday night in our bible study with open arms. you have killed some of the most beautiful people that i know. every fiber in my body hurts. and i'll never be the same. towanda sanders was the ninth shot. but towanda was my hero. as we say in bieblt study, we endure you, but may god have mercy on you. >> everyone's plea for your soul is proof that they lived and loved and their legacies will live and love. so hate won't win. >> and i ain't noticed that i am very angry.

for one thing, the pain has always joined our family with, is that she taught me that we are the family that love built. we have no room for hate. so we have to forgive. ♪ let it shine >> so as you can see, we're in front of the church now. people are singing "this little light o mine ♪ . members of the church and members of the community. and what's really important here is as you see people from all different ethnicities and backgrounds here. martin savage has been following this story all day. martin was at the courthouse during that hearing. martin, take us inside. tell us what happened? >> very, very emotional.

this is coming from the ruth family and it's the first one that they put out. they say words cannot express our shock, grief and disbelief as to what happened that night. we are devil stated and saddened for what occurred. oush thoughts and prayers are with the victim's and family of those killed this week.

immediately after it was completed, then we received the arrest warrant. there is mr coming forabout the roout family. everyone his own family began calling the authorities to say that is him. and then last thing that we learned from these documents, something we already knew, but, now confirmed by the authorities, was that even as dillen ruth was leaving, and for all the carnage he created, he finally was still using racial

as he walked out the door. the hate was still in imhim. don? >> martin savage, we appreciate that. so, listen, we. >> this is your church home, right? >> yes, it is. everybody's out here because they're sad. they've sad and they're shocked about what happened over the past week. we want the world to know that charleston, south carolina needs to shed light on the racism that goes on in south carolina. so we thank everybody today for

the prayers and for being here and for lifting us all up in prayer. >> how are you olding up? >> i am very saddened by what's going on and what happened. this is not ordinary. i'm at a loss of words many times over. so much grief and so much pain. >> is there going to be church here? i think this is church right now. >> yes. >> everyone here needs this. >> yes, they do. everyone grew up in this church. i'm just saddened by what happened. and we will never see our pastor, pastor pinknee again.

and that saddens us very much so. >> can i talk too you? what's your snam. >> another lot of people are wondering the families, today, in kurt, how can they forgive so quickly. >> that's a good question. i'm going to be honest with you. what i can say is, shine a little light on it, it's, you know, the time they spay the dog, i know they're very good with all the the chris kwans and they have just a strong fait base. but as for as quickly, that's a good question. i know that they'll have a strong face, so that's probably not the reason. >>. >> why did you comet up? >> i kiejt to support my community. i wrunt perjly here when it happened.

i came out here to support the family. >> when i came out earlier, i said, you know, this place is going to filtered tonight. wild -- why did you -- why do you think so many people are showing up. >> i feel like people need to come cob to heal. this is kind of like a did you recall by for some people. because, coming stolgt, loving everyone is healing. >> the family members were r were in court today and said i forgive him. it's only been two days. so some people are wondering how is that possible. >> you will have to forgive to not necessary lid forget, but to able be to move on and 5:00 september that it happened.

forgiveness is the deepest from above. i'm out here because i want the mayor and the governor to know if you really want to support these people, support agendas. >> diversity of people in the community. >> right. right. stop spending federal dollars here in husz ton that don't support. >> you know, that happens in many cities and the country. the whole world is watching you guys. what do you want people to noi. >> i want people to know that ricism started here in

charleston and it's got an end here in chaushlgsz ton. when are we going to start pushing ledge slags that's deeply rooted here in this state and in this country. >> so, gep, we're going to be out here throughout this hour. we're singing old sometime hims that many grew up in church with. we're going to talk about -- this woman has a history here. it has to end here. we'll be right back. well, a mortgage shouldn't be a problem, your credit is in pretty good shape. >>pretty good? i know i have a 798 fico score, thanks to the tools and help on experian.com. kaboom...

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mpx back here live now,i'm heefr with the folks who are here. they're singing songs, old spirituals. they say they're going to be out here all night. they're the heart and the hearth of this, keeping everyone warm and everyone, you know, in a good spirit here. i'm going to talk to some people. can i talk to you guys? are you from south carolina? >> no, we're from new york city. >> why did you come out here? >> we were just coming here for a visit quince dentally. so we didn't come out for this. but we're here to pay our respect and see the human spirit can't be squashed.

>> it's such a horrible event that happened. and all of these people coming out from everywhere. you had to come here and you don't even live here. >> yeah, yeah, it's important. it's important to be involved and take a stand. do you think this shows that racism will not prevail? >> absolutely. >> why are you here? >> i'd like to be a part of the community and i'm very interested in what's going on chlts i wouldn't want to miss this moment for nothing in the world. >> how does this help? >> how does it what? >> it helps because sitting in the house is very depressing. i wanted to get out and be a

part of the community and just let people know that i care. yes, it helps. grieving. >> so people who are watching us around the country, arnold the world, really, what should they know? what can they do to help? >> okay, they can take moments like this to really get out and start voting. or maybe start meeting on a monthly or a weekly basis. this goes way back. i feel like when you get out and speak about it and, you know, communicate together, maybe things will change. >> i live in newtown,

connecticut. what are we supposed to tell our children if they can't feel safe in a school? sorry. >> they can't feel safe anywhere. a mall. anywhere. our children needs some sense of community that know that they're safe. >> you said you lived in newtown? >> i lived in connecticut. that school was three miles away. >> and do you live here now? >> yes, i do. and i love it. >> and now this? >> yeah. what's going on, do you think? people don't listen to people. they knew that child was sick and his father gives him a gun? >> his father is now saying he got it with his own money. >> come on.

>> just a waste of wonderful lives. >> my main question is, and, listen, i think i'm a big person. but i don't know that i'm a big enough person to forgive someone a day or two after. listen, i kmoend the loved ones. how does that happen just take for example, i watched cnn more than the local channels. you were bringing things on and the local channels turned up. i thought it was dispickble. >> i think most people get that it was about forgiveness. but it was not the right moment.

i feel that people are so used to having their way. and the thing that josh did today was not called nor. >> that turned a lot of people off. did you see that moment? did anyone see that moment when the judge, today -- >> no? >> how are you doing? who are you out here with? >> my mom. she's right there. >> thank you. thank you chlgt. >> we've going to continue on here on cnn. i have to telt you, it's a break from our show what we had planned to do. i do believe it's important to hear from the people here in charleston, zm zm. i think that they need to vent and they want their voices heard when it comes to this. and they're very up set about the way that things have been

handed. they're up set about what the judge did in an appropriate moment. we're going to talk about the that flag. one person said to me they're dead. >> we've got to talk about that flag. we've really got to talk about that flag. that flag is dividing us. it is separating us. and we cannot allow this such ration. is we're going to have to do something that's just lay. >> why do you think it's still you want there? >> the powers that be are still in place chlts we the people must speak louder than the powers that be. >> we're going to continue our conversation about the site. >> these are my nieces.

i bring them everywhere because they need to learn now. train up a child. how? hello and they will not depart. >> we're going to talk to you, ma'am. i've got to get to a commercial break, but i promise i'll talk to you. don't go anywhere. we'll be talking to the people here in the crowd. we'll be right back with our breaking news coverage. before earning enough cash back from bank of america to buy a new gym bag. before earning 1% cash back everywhere, every time and 2% back at the grocery store. even before he got 3% back on gas. kenny used his bankamericard cash rewards credit card to join the wednesday night league. because he loves to play hoops. not jump through them. that's the excitement of rewarding connections. apply online or at a bank of america near you. you're not at all concerned? about what now? oh, i don't know. the apocalypse? we're fine. i bundled renter's with my car insurance through progressive for just six bucks more a month. word. there's looters running wild out there.

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we'll get back in the crowd in just moments. we want to get back to charleston and our breaking news coverage. dillen ruth showing absolutely no emotion. it was via video link today after being charged with nine counts of murder. he appeared on camera via video link. so, brian, you've been speaking with people all day. so what are you hearing? what are you learning about him? >> don, we've been speaking to one man in particular. they knew each other in middle

school. >> i didn't believe him whenever he said he wanted to do something crazy. he wanted segregation. he wanted a race war. he had it in his mind and he didn't really let nobody know. >> meak said there was other bizarre behavior. he talked about race wars mostly

when he had been drinking chlts. >> did joey tell you anything about dillen's gun? >> what he first told us that he didn't want to be accused of stealing a gun from him. so he put the gun back into dillen ruth's trunk. now, on how he got the gun. there seems to be a dispute over the purchase o of a gurn mplts. >> they didn't want dillen to have his gun. >> his parents gave him the cash for it? >> for his birthday in april.

they both split the price of the gun in cash and gave it to dillen to go buy the gun and put it in his name. the family issued a statement. words cannot express our shock, grief and disbelief as to what happened that night. the family issuing that statement tonight. >> thank you very much. i appreciate that. how do you assess people like

this? >> oh, and dylann, i forgive you. play god have mercy on your soul. >> so, doctor, he could only hear people in the courtroom. it appeared he had zero emotion. what do you make of that? >> i have to say something. i've heard many anchors and

guests saying we should not focus any attention on this young man. the fact is he's obviously not relishing any attention. he's obviously not celebrating a hate crime that's gone well, if you will. we need to understand why he did what he did. he could be in shock, he could be cold and uncaring or racist.

>> or he could be definitely not someone looking for the limelight, as well. when he was shouting out, i dpoent care that your husband died in the towishes. none of that happened and could have happened. >> so let's talk about the victims, when you hear victims forgive, is that typical? >> it's typical in death penalty trials. the prosecution typically calls victims for victim impact statements.

so these are people who are still angry and hurt and destraught. the prosecution victims were all angry and hurt and up set and that i recall lives were tatterd. they were not forgiven. they were fum of heat. they described the same level of pain as the prosecution witnesses. but they talked about healing. they talked about forgiveness.

certainly, they have a simple wisdom that knollson mandella had. >> some say he really fits the stereotype. and then i hear others saying that why is it wlvr r whether every a crime is committed, it's always mental illness. i know that is something that sticks in sonny's car and race -- >> i'm thinking that's right.

>> and in in case, we haven't heard any history of psychiatric care. so isn't it possible that dillen roof is just a bad egg? >> of course it's possible. . >> this should not be a rush to judgemented here. a rush to judgement further includes everybody. it's not like charles ton.

it's already and the culture brings the worms. >> we needs to think about what we say before we throw out generalizations. >> i don't think sonny is saying it is and absolute. whern we come right back, the shootings here in targ sout carolina. is it any womder that some say they don't feel safe in this building. building. nessexpert from at&t? yeah, give me a problem and i've got the solution. well, we have 30 years of customer records. our cloud can keep them safe and accessible anywhere. my drivers don't have time to fill out forms.

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. back now live in charleston. dyllan roof's reason was abslootly chill. is it any wonder some african americans don't feel safe in this country.

>> joe, i'm tired of doing shows like this, you? >> we were in north charleston not too long ago because of the walter scott case, 400 people showed up in saint peters a.m.e. church. they are a unique group of people down there. >> this alleged killer said hefrgs looking to start a race war. >> don, i'm so proud to be an

american today. he was a radicalized terrorist. that's what he was. and america is seeing that. i'm going to say something about that doctor that was on about let's not rush to judgment. no, let's rush to judgment. why? why did they not say anything like that about three weeks ago when alishakree amin was

arrested by our f.b.i. because he was plotting to recruit people to overthrow america through isis. now, on our own territory, we have radicalized separatists. if we're worried about dyllan roof, you should understand that there are over 1600 web sites up there right now giving information to more dyllan roofs to do the same thing. but am i afraid? >> oh, no, don. >> but look what you see behind you. every race, we've got to get excited about this. that's real raw emotion and fear out there from people of cover. >> but don't confuse fear with paralysis.

>> they're talking about fear, but they're taking action chlts hechs immediately termed a terrorist. here's what has to happen. white america must say to their children, that we will not toll rate at our dinner table. we will not tolerate it in our private company. this -- now is the time that you sit down at dinner tables and when you hear a relative say something that's racist, you call them on it.

but most important of all, e lekked officials better get caught up with the moral of the run away people! this has caused a lot of trouble. this right here. >> it belongs in the museum like the president said. >> and it hangs on the ground of the state house. there's so much anger about this flag. >> it belongs in a museum. >> we know that they painted themselves into a corner. >> if we keep listening to what you put only, there have been individual after individual after individual who keep saying that well, they didn't think he was that bad.

but he told them directly that he had a plan to start a race war. again, i go back -- >> that easter rich. >> oh, wait, that easter rich. and, because of that, we should focus on people like that. but what we have to do, and joe was so right. all of these same people should have called somebody. >> joe, i've got ten seconds left. >> and? >> i thought you wanted to get him right. >>. >> no, look. the flag represents what? dividing this country. that seccer needs to be in a museum and by the way the governor has the ability. she can issue an executive order and do just that.

it's ridiculous. >> people here say it's akin to a swastika. >> when we come right back, the brothers of one womd talking about the loss of life to a bible sfud day student. first, the moving tribute to the people whoed at the an amad. we'll be right back. let's take a look at your credit. >>i know i have a 786 fico score, thanks to experian.com. so what else are you going to throw in? leather seats? >>and this... get your credit swagger on. become a member of experian credit tracker and find out your fico score powered by experian.

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i want to report to you now some breaking news. tonight, a correction officer who has been placed on add m straitive leave. we'll continue to update you on that story. but i want to get back now to the shooting here in charles ton. one of the victims was baptized at emanuela.m.e. she died just days before her birthday. i talked to her brothers, malcolm and alvin graham, jr. >> she's about to have a birthday. >> yes, it's sunday.

it's going to be tough, but we'll get through it. when i think about my sister,i do cry sometimes. i love her. and i miss her. i want to live my life so that she can be proud of me. >> she's a christian. she's not a victim. she's my best friend. she's a confidant. she loved living. and, so, she's not a victim. she's a christian and she should be celebrated.

>> very beautiful, strong family. our thoughts and prayers are with them. earlier today, an amazing scene as a crowd sings amazing grace. take a listen.

moments of healing happening in a place where nine people lost their lives. the a.m.e. churmg in chaurms ton. that's it for us. thanks for watching tonight. ac 360 starts right now.