Nine churchgoers, all African-American, were shot and killed by a young, white man, who blamed the victims because of the color of their skin Now one year after the traumatic incident, Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church has flung its doors wide open and welcomed people "As the ‪#‎Emanuel9‬ survivors, families, congregation, City of Charleston and the world prepare to commemorate and remember those who were ripped from our lives on June 17th, 2015, all the pieces are coming together," a Facebook statement read