CHARLESTON, S.C. (WBTW)- More than 5,000 people packed the College of Charleston TD arena on Friday to pay their final respect to the late Senator and Reverend Clements Pinckney.
Among those number were people who traveled from the Grand Strand and Pee Dee including Natasha Sprattling who brought her kids to witness history and see the legacy Pinckney left behind.
“So they should also look to him and do the right thing. Don’t be fearful because he was gunned down. There are a lot of people that are filled with hate but we have more love that can overpower that hate,” Sprattling said.
She’s one of thousands who started waiting in line at the crack of dawn to get inside the arena. While everyone who attended came from different walks in life, the theme for Friday’s funeral was unity.
“You know as the crowd begin to come in, people were singing praises of worship and Songs of Zion so it was very good out here, spirit was high you know people were talking,” Sprattling added.
Not everyone was able to make it inside the arena though. It seats around 5400 people and quickly reached capacity causing the Fire Marshal to close the gates.
“We were that close and you know it was heart-wrenching but of course you know we understand that everyone can’t get in and we understood that so just being here is enough,”Carolet Thomas said.
It’s that support that Pinckney’s cousin says will get them through the tough days ahead.
“Well it warms my heart. It brings joy to me and it lets me know that we’re not alone that we’re not grieving alone in this very tragic event,” Senator Kent Williams said.
