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Obama Leads Chorus Of 'Amazing Grace' At Charleston Reverend's Funeral, And Says Confederate Flag Will Come Down

Watch Obama Lead Chorus Of 'Amazing Grace' At Charleston Reverend's Funeral
Kathryn Snowdon
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US President Barack Obama led a chorus of "Amazing Grace" during his eulogy for the reverend of the Charleston church where nine people were gunned down before calling for stronger gun laws.

Obama described Reverend Clementa Pinckney, pastor of Charleston's Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, which was targeted in a "hate crime", as a "good man".

He described those killed as "good people, decent people, God-fearing people. People so full of life and so full of kindness, people who ran the race, persevered. People of great faith."

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Barack Obama led a chorus of 'Amazing Grace' at Reverend Clementa Pinckney's funeral

He told the families of those murdered: "The nation shares in your grief. Our pain cuts that much deeper because it happened in a church."

The president also used the eulogy to call on America to front up to its problem with guns.

He said that for too long America has "been blind to the unique mayhem that gun violence inflicts on this nation", and called for action on gun control, not just talk.

The removal of the confederate flag from the country's capital was also touched upon. Obama said that, while "this flag did not cause these murders", the flag represents more than just ancestral pride.

He said removing the flag from the state's capital would not be an act of "political correctness".

Obama said: "For many, black and white, that flag was a reminder of systemic oppression and racial subjugation. We see that now.

"By taking down that flag," he said, "we express God's grace."

Article continues below slideshow:

Clementa Pinckney Funeral
Obama Speaks at Reverend Clementa Pinckney Memorial Service(01 of25)
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U.S. President Barack Obama gives the eulogy at the memorial service for Reverend Clementa Pinckney in Charleston, USA on June 26, 2015. (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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US President Barack Obama greets Malana (L) and Eliana (R), the daughters of Rev. and South Carolina State Sen. Clementa Pinckney, as his wife Jennifer Pinckney (C) looks during the funeral at the College of Charleston TD Arena, in Charleston, South Carolina on June 26, 2015. AFP PHOTO/MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)
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A woman closes her eyes while attending the funeral of Rev. and South Carolina State Sen. Clementa Pinckney, at the College of Charleston TD Arena, in Charleston, South Carolina on June 26, 2015. AFP PHOTO/MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)
Clementa Pinckney Funeral(12 of25)
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South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley (L) greets Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton as they attend the funeral for South Carolina state senator and Rev. Clementa Pinckney on June 26, 2015 in Charleston, South Carolina. Suspected shooter Dylann Roof, 21, is accused of killing nine people on June 17th during a prayer meeting in the church, which is one of the nation's oldest black churches in Charleston. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (credit:Joe Raedle via Getty Images)
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Democratic Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton is greeted as she attends the funeral for South Carolina state senator and Rev. Clementa Pinckney on June 26, 2015 in Charleston, South Carolina. Suspected shooter Dylann Roof, 21, is accused of killing nine people on June 17th during a prayer meeting in the church, which is one of the nation's oldest black churches in Charleston. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) (credit:Joe Raedle via Getty Images)
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The Rev. Jesse Jackson is introduced during the funeral service where U.S. President Barack Obama delivered the eulogy for South Carolina State senator and Rev. Clementa Pinckney who was killed along with eight others in a mass shooting June 26, 2015 in Charleston, South Carolina. Suspected shooter Dylann Roof, 21 years old, is accused of killing nine people on June 17th during a prayer meeting at the Emanuel AME church in Charleston. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Win McNamee via Getty Images)
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Mourners sing gospel hymns during the funeral service where U.S. President Barack Obama delivered the eulogy for South Carolina State senator and Rev. Clementa Pinckney who was killed along with eight others in a mass shooting June 26, 2015 in Charleston, South Carolina. Suspected shooter Dylann Roof, 21 years old, is accused of killing nine people on June 17th during a prayer meeting at the Emanuel AME church in Charleston. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) (credit:Win McNamee via Getty Images)
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US First Lady Michelle Obama hugs Jennifer Pinckney (R), the wife of the slain Rev. and South Carolina State Sen. Clementa Pinckney, as Pinckney's daugher Eliana looks on during his funeral at the College of Charleston TD Arena, in Charleston, South Carolina on June 26, 2015. AFP PHOTO/MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)
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US First Lady Michelle Obama hugs Malana Pinckney (C), the daughter of the slain Rev. and South Carolina State Sen. Clementa Pinckney, while speaking to Pinkney's other daughter Eliana during his funeral at the College of Charleston TD Arena, in Charleston, South Carolina on June 26, 2015. AFP PHOTO/MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)
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US President Barack Obama embraces Eliana Pinckney, the daughter of the slain Rev. and South Carolina State Sen. Clementa Pinckney, during his funeral at the College of Charleston TD Arena, in Charleston, South Carolina on June 26, 2015. AFP PHOTO/MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)
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US President Barack Obama embraces Jennifer Pinckney, the wife of the slain Rev. and South Carolina State Sen. Clementa Pinckney, during his funeral at the College of Charleston TD Arena, in Charleston, South Carolina on June 26, 2015. AFP PHOTO/MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images)
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Obama said taking the flag down would be an "acknowledgment that the cause for which they fought, the cause of slavery was wrong".

Obama never mentioned the name of the 21-year-old charged over the murders, Dylann Roof, name, only referring to "the alleged killer" during his eulogy.

The president said: "Blinded by hatred the alleged killer couldn't see the grace surrounding Revered Pinckney and that bible group."

He added: "The alleged killer couldn't imagine how the city of Charleston... how the state of South Carolina... and the United States of America would respond, not merely with revulsion at his evil act but with big hearted generosity and more importantly with a thoughtful introspection and examination that we so rarely see in public life."

After his speech, Obama tweeted how much he admired the grace shown by the victims' families, using the hashtag 'HateWontWin'.

People were moved by Obama's rendition of Amazing Grace.

SEE ALSO:

'Hate Crime' Church Shooting Leaves Nine Dead In Charleston As Police Hunt Suspect

Jon Stewart's Devastatingly Brilliant Gun Violence Speech Drops Jokes For Brutal Truths

Charleston Shooter Captured By Police

Anonymous To Stop 'Hateful' Westboro Baptist Church From Picketing Charleston Shooting Victims' Funerals

Words Of Forgiveness From Charleston Shooting Victim's Son Are Utterly Inspiring

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