Obama, Biden to travel to Charleston
President Obama and Vice President Biden will travel to Charleston, South Carolina, Friday, according to the White House. They will attend the funeral services of the Rev. Clementa Pinckney - he was among the nine people killedlast week at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston.
The president will deliver the eulogy for Pinckney, the pastor of the church and South Carolina state senator who, along with eight others, was killed in the shooting.
Mr. Obama said last week that he and the first lady knew Pinckney, as well as several other members of the church. Pinckney, the Associated Press says, was an Obama supporter and met the Obamas during Mr. Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.
Last week, the president addressed the fact that the congregants were targeted for their race. "The fact this took place in a black church raises questions about a dark part of our history," the president said. And in an interview that aired on Monday, he talked about racismin stark terms, using the "N-word" to help make his point that the country, even after 200-300 years, is not yet cured of racism.