Atheist stands guard outside AME Church

24 July 2015 - 17:58 By Times LIVE, AFP
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Image: Gallo Images/ Thinkstock

In June Dylann Roof attacked the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C, killing nine people.

Roof was a devout Christian who attended church regularly according to the Daily Mail.

The attack was followed by six churches being burnt, though the ATF claims they were not racially motivated.

Preliminary investigations point to three of the fires being accidental, with the cause of the other three still to be determined, ATF spokeswoman Ginger Colbrun told AFP.

"At this time, there is no evidence that (the six fires) are linked or racially motivated," Colbrun said, stressing that investigations into all the incidents are still ongoing.

Earlier this week the A.M.E. Church in Pueblo, USA, celebrated its 140th anniversary according to a report in the Pueblo Chieftan (Paywall).

Michael Williams, an atheist, was standing guard to make sure nothing happened.

Following the Charleston attack he had phoned the church's Rev. Margaret Redmond and offered to stand guard.

“He said, ‘Although I am an atheist, I’ll be damned if my fellow countrymen can’t worship in peace,’ ” Redmond said.

“After prayerful reflection, I felt comfortable that he was genuine,” Redmond said. “And he’s been there at every Sunday service, standing in front of the church, observing and making sure that nothing happens.”

Williams meanwhile says he is no hero, merely a man doing what is right.

"I mean, if you can’t be safe in a church, then where in the hell can you be?” Williams asked.

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