Crowds gathered at Charleston's Emanuel AME Church for the first worship service at the historic African American church since a white gunman killed nine black people at Bible study group there last week.
Charleston Church Reopens
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A crowd maintains Vigil outside of Emanuel AME church in Charleston, South Carolina, June 21, 2015. (Amanda Scott/VOA)
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Police officers are seen at the entrance of Emanuel AME church in Charleston, South Carolina, June 21, 2015. (Amanda Scott/VOA)
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A makeshift cross with commmorative messages is seen near Emanuel AME church in Charleston, South Carolina, June 21, 2015. (Amanda Scott/VOA)
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Mourners lay flowers outside of outside of Emanuel AME church in Charleston, South Carolina, June 21, 2015. (Amanda Scott/VOA)
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A group sings outside of Emanuel AME church in Charleston, South Carolina, June 21, 2015. (Amanda Scott/VOA)
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Signatures are seen on a 'Charleston United' board outside of Emanuel AME church in Charleston, South Carolina, June 21, 2015. (Amanda Scott/VOA)
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Church members at the Emanuel AME Church, Charleston, South Carolina, June 21, 2015. (Amanda Scott/VOA)
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Church members wait for services to begin at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, June 21, 2015. (Amanda Scott/VOA)
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A police officer stands guard as church members wait for services to begin at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, June 21, 2015. (Amanda Scott/VOA)
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The organ at the Emanuel AME Church, Charleson, South Carolina, June 21, 2015. (Amanda Scott/VOA)
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Crowds gather outside the Emanuel AME Church during its first service since a deadly shooting there, Charleston, South Carolina, June 21, 2015. (Jerome Socolovsky/VOA)
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People gather ahead of worship services at the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, June 21, 2015. (Jerome Socolovsky/VOA)
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Crowds on the front steps of the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, June 21, 2015. (Jerome Socolovsky/VOA)
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A prayer left among the flowers outside Emanuel AME Church, Charleston, South Carolina, June 21, 2015. (Jerome Socolovsky/VOA)
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People gather to pray in a park in Charleston, South Carolina, June 21, 2015. (Jerome Socolovsky/VOA)
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People stop to listen as church bells ring out across Charleston, South Carolina, June 21, 2015. (Jerome Socolovsky/VOA)