In an extremely tragic event last Wednesday, a gunman stole the lives of 9 people at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. The shooter—acting on apparent racial motivations—was apprehended the following day in Shelby, North Carolina.

These stories have become frighteningly common.

At PR/PR we want to extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of this heinous act, who bravely—and symbolically—filed into the pews of the AME Church for Sunday service to display solidarity against hatred and violence.

Places of worship and spirituality should not be locations of massacre. But fear and division will not dominate our nation. Together, as Americans, we will move forward from this abhorrent event.

We stand behind South Carolina as they mourn and put back the pieces that were shattered last Wednesday evening.