Glenn headed to Charleston, SC after heartbreaking shooting at a church leaves nine dead

June 18, 2015

Writer

A heartbreaking story out of Charleston, SC. Alleged shooter Dylann Roof gunned down nine people at Bethel AME Church in South Carolina Wednesday night. On radio this morning, Glenn said he would be flying to Charleston on Friday to show the community that they are loved and supported by people all over the world.

Stay tuned to GlennBeck.com and Glenn's Facebook page for more details on his planned visit.

Glenn first announced his plans on his Facebook page:

I am going to Charleston SC tomorrow. I don't have the details yet. But I want you to join me. Let us no longer...
Posted by Glenn Beck on Thursday, June 18, 2015

Below is a transcript of this segment from the 9am hour of radio. The latest details on this story can be found at TheBlaze.com

In Charleston, South Carolina, police are widening the search for a gunman who opened fire and killed nine people. He's a white guy about 21 years old. We know very little about him at this hour.

We have a partial of his license plate. We know that he came in to the church. The church. During a Bible study. And he sat there for about an hour. He then got up, walked out. Went to his car. Came back in and shot nine people.

The Embassy Suites was a interim headquarters for the church, as people began to gather. People began sobbing and screaming as they learned about the details of what happened.

Let me say this. Tomorrow I'm going to be in Charleston, South Carolina. I called WSC this morning when I heard the news. They're our affiliate. And I asked them if they could host us. We're in New York, and we're on our way.

Tomorrow, I would like to ask you to join me. I don't have any details yet of where we will be. Where we will gather. I hope to be somewhere close to the church. But I believe -- and I read this story, my heart broke. And my heart was lifted up at the same time.

Where there is great darkness and evil, there is also great light. This church behaved so amazing last night. They gathered together and prayed. And when I heard their prayers, I knew where we needed to be.

I'm perplexed. But I'm not in despair today. I really believe that Charleston is going to show the rest of us an Amish moment.

Do you remember -- do you remember when the shooter came into that Amish community and opened fire and killed all of their children in a schoolhouse? Do you remember what the Amish did? The Amish immediately forgave him, forgave his family, and reached out to the family. They gave some of the funds that were raised for the families to his family and begged him -- I'm sorry, begged them, the shooter's family, not to move away, to please stay in our community. That's what Christians are supposed to do. And I think the Amish are one of the few that have it.

But I have a feeling that Charleston will show us that Christian moment. They're going to show us that Amish moment. I don't know why, but this isn't Ferguson. I don't know why, but this isn't Baltimore. This is a place where the slave trade happened. This is a place -- I have a dog tag from Charleston, South Carolina, as part of our history collection, I have an actual dog tag. But it's not for a dog it's for a human being. This was the place that was the heart of darkness at one point. It's not anymore. They're not those people. And I refuse to be dragged back into the 1960s or the 1860s. The 18 and 1960s are long gone.

Now, I don't know why this shooter shot people. He might shoot people because he's a racist. He might have shot people because he's an anarchist. He might have shot people because he hates Christians. I don't know why he shot people. But either way, whether it was because of race, or he was anti-Christian, or he just wants to stir up trouble, it's evil. Chaos is evil.

There is persecution, but we're not forsaken. We may feel cast down, but we're not destroyed.

It's time we take our light and stop hiding it. Stop being afraid of it. Why were you born? I -- I think I'm just figuring out why I was born. Why were you born?

There's a reason all of us are here, and it's not to watch TV. It's not to work. It's not to -- it's not just to gather more stuff. It's not to go on vacation and have fun. It's not to climb the corporate ladder. It's none of those things.

We were born so miracles could happen through us. I really truly believe we were born so we could -- we could show the power of God. That he would be working through us. Right now, we're -- we either don't have any light, or it's so dim in all of us, it's just -- it's just in tradition. You go to church just because, well, I don't know, my parents went there. That's why people are leaving our churches. Because that's not enough.

Who cares. Who cares about tradition like that. Who wants to go for that reason.

Donald Trump said yesterday, no, I'm very Christian. I go to church, definitely on Easter and Christmas. You know why? Because you don't get anything out of it. Because nobody is putting it into action. It's all a bunch of words.

Why were you born?

I think God raised us up, that he could show his power in us and that we might declare his name.

I know I'm getting all preachy or religious, but our country has no choice. We can either look to man. And I'll tell you who is going to be there. Al Sharpton will be there. He's on a plane right now. He'll be landing and he'll be at a prayer vigil today at noon. And do you think he'll say, let's all come together? Do you think that the people that went into political mode last night when they first heard about this shooting, do you think they're going to bring us together? Or do you think they'll use this community to drive a wedge?

Let's hold the arms up of this community and let them show us how to heal. That's what's going to happen in Charleston. But, you know what, Charleston has a choice today. My gut tells me -- I know -- I know these people. I know what they're going to choose. I think this community is going to show America what it's like to be an American and a Christian. To be a good neighbor. I think they're going to show us the 1860s and 1960s are dead and buried. We're not those people.

I don't have any of the details, but I want to witness them tomorrow. I want to be there tomorrow because I think something great is going to happen in Charleston. I think it began last night. I think there was a flash for about two minutes of absolute evil and darkness, and then I think people said, I'm going to be a lamp stand. I'm not going to hide my light anymore. I'm going to put it right up for everybody to see it. And they did. I watched them pray.

This is a community in mourning.

Glenn: We MUST change our ways before we DESTROY ourselves

What happened to Europe?

Once upon a time, America and Europe fought side-by-side to overthrow authoritarian regimes and resist communist dictators. Now European leaders are adopting the policies Europeans once fought against—and calling AMERICA out for "abandoning liberal democracy." But as Europeans get arrested for their speech, their elections rigged, and their religion squashed, Glenn felt compelled to notify their leaders of the truth: America didn't abandon democracy, Europe abandoned its people.

With this in mind, over the weekend Glenn authored an open letter to the leaders of Europe, calling them to return to the core values of Western democracy that we fought so hard for and to listen to the voices of their citizens who cry out for change. Glenn encouraged his audience to read his letter and spread the word:

pic.twitter.com/176M6uYRbB
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) February 23, 2025

Glenn took to X to get as many eyes on his letter as possible. He also filmed a short video in his home stressing the importance of Europe's awakening. America cannot afford to prop up NATO anymore and Europe needs to be ready to hold its weight. Big changes are coming and for the sake of the Western values we have fought so long to preserve, we want Europe by our side, ready to face the future. We must change our ways before we tear ourselves apart.

An urgent message to Europe’s leaders: Return to the people’s voice. pic.twitter.com/ecI43zSnj5
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) February 23, 2025

Trump's education secretary has BIG plans for the DoE

SAUL LOEB / Contributor | Getty Images

Our education system is broken, and the Department of Education is a massive failure. But that all ends now.

It's no secret that America's school system is seriously lacking in many ways. President Trump pointed out that despite our massive spending per pupil, we are behind most of the developed world in most metrics. Our scores continue to plummet while our student debt and spending skyrocket—it's utterly unacceptable performance and America's students deserve better.

That's where Linda McMahon, Trump's pick for Secretary of Education comes in.

The former WWE CEO and leader of the U.S. Small Business Administration during Trump's first term, McMahon laid out her harsh criticisms of the DoE during a confirmation hearing on the 13th and revealed her promising plans to turn things around. McMahon described the public education system as "in decline" and promised that under her authority, the DoE would be reoriented towards student success.

Here are the top three changes to the Department of Education:

1. Dismantling the Department of Education

SAUL LOEB / Contributor | Getty Images

From the beginning Trump's orders for McMahon were clear: oversee the end of the Department of Education.

During her Thursday hearing, McMahon clarified what dismantling the DoE would entail. As Democrats have repeatedly pointed out, Trump does not have the authority to destroy the DoE without Congressional consent, as an act of Congress created it. That is why Trump and McMahon's plan is to start by shutting down programs that can be stopped by executive action, then approach Congress with a plan to dismantle the Department for good. The executive orders have already begun to take effect, and once McMahon is confirmed she will author a plan for Congress to close the Department.

McMahon also promised that the end of the Department of Education does not mean an end to all the programs currently undertaken by the doomed department. Programs that are deemed beneficial will be transferred (along with their funding) to departments that are more suited to the task. The example given by McMahon was IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) funding, which instead of being cut would be transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services.

2. School Choice

Robert Daemmrich Photography Inc / Contributor | Getty Images

In a huge win for parents across the country, McMahon pledged her support for School Choice. School Choice is the idea of allowing parents to enroll their student in any school of their choice, including religious schools and private schools. It would also mean that part or all of the funding that would have gone to a relocated child would follow them and continue to pay for their education.

This gives parents the ability to remove their children from failing schools and seek a better education for them elsewhere. A growing body of evidence suggests that the way we run our schools isn't working, and it is time to try something new. School Choice opens up education to the free market and will allow for competition.

Our children deserve better than what we can currently offer them.

3. COVID and DEI

SAVO PRELEVIC / Contributor | Getty Images

Trump's government-wide crackdown on DEI will ironically serve to increase inclusion in many American schools.

McMahon said as much during her Senate hearing: “It was put in place ostensibly for more diversity, for equity and inclusion. And I think what we’re seeing is, it is having an opposite effect. We are getting back to more segregating of our schools instead of having more inclusion in our schools.” She also spoke in support of Title IX, and the push to remove biological males from women's and girl's sports. In the same vein, McMahon pledged to push back against the rise of antisemitism on college campuses, which many Universities have failed to adequately address.

On Friday, February 14th, President Trump signed an executive order barring any school or university with COVID-19 vaccine mandates from receiving federal money. This only applies to the COVID-19 vaccine, and other vaccine mandates are still standing.

POLL: What DARK government secrets will Trump uncover?

Mark Wilson / Staff | Getty Images

Will the dark secrets of the Deep State finally see the light of day? Or will they slip back into darkness, as they have many times before?

The Trump administration is gearing up to fulfill one of Trump's most anticipated campaign promises: to make the contents of the JFK files, along with other Deep State secrets, available to the public. Kash Patel, who has promised to publicize the highly anticipated files, is expected to be confirmed next week as Trump's director of the FBI. Moreover, the House Oversight Committee created a new task force headed by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna called "Task Force on Declassification of Federal Secrets," which is tasked with investigating and declassifying information on the JFK, RFK, and MLK assassinations, UFOs, the Epstein list, COVID's origins, and 9/11. This all comes after the FBI found 2,400 "new" records relating to the assassination of President Kennedy following Trump's executive order to release the files.

Glenn discussed this topic with the cast of the Patrick Bet David podcast. Glenn expressed his confidence in Trump's radical transparency—on the condition that Kash Patel is confirmed. The cast was not as optimistic, expressing some doubt about whether Trump will actually unveil all that he has promised. But what do you think? What files are likely to see the light of day? And what files will continue to linger in the dark? Let us know in the poll below

Do you think the JFK, RFK, and MLK files will be unveiled?

Do you think the 9/11 files will be unveiled?

Do you think the COVID files will be unveiled?

Do you think the UFO files will be unveiled?

Do you think the Epstein list will be unveiled?

Transgender opera in Colombia? 10 SHOCKING ways USAID spent your tax dollars.

MANDEL NGAN / Contributor | Getty Images

The government has been doing what with our tax money!?

Under the determined eye of Elon Musk, DOGE has rooted out the corruption that permeates USAID, and it turns out that it's worse than we thought. Glenn recently read a list of atrocious causes that were funded by USAID, and the list was as long as it was shocking.

Since the January consumer index report was published today, one thing is clear: eggs are bearing the brunt of inflation. That's why we illustrated the extent of USAID's wasteful spending of YOUR taxpayer dollars by comparing it to the price of eggs. How many eggs could the American people have bought with their tax dollars that were given to a "transgender opera" in Colombia or indoctrinating Sri Lankans with woke gender ideology? The truth will shock you:

1. A “transgender opera” in Colombia

USAID spent $47,000 on a transgender opera in Colombia. That's over 135,000 eggs.

2. Sex changes and "LGBT activism" in Guatemala

$2 million was spent funding sex changes along with whatever "LGBT activism" means. That equates to over 5.7 million eggs!

3. Teaching Sri Lankan journalists how to avoid binary-gendered language

USAID forked over $7.9 million to combat the "gender binary" in Sri Lankan journalism. That could have bought nearly 23 million eggs.

4. Tourism in Egypt

$6 million (or just over 17 million eggs) was spent to fund tourism in Egypt. If only someone had thought to build some impressive landmarks...

5. A new "Sesame Street" show in Iraq

USAID spent $20 million to create a new Sesame Street show in Iraq. That's just short of 58 million eggs...

6. Helping the BBC value the diversity of Libyan society

$2.1 million was sent to the BBC (the British Broadcasting Corporation) to help them value the diversity of Libyan society (whatever that means). That could have bought over 6 million eggs.

7. Meals for a terrorist group linked to Al-Qaeda

$10 million worth of USAID-funded meals went to an Al-Qaeda linked terrorist group. That comes up to be just shy of 29 million eggs.

8. Promoting inclusion in Vietnam

A combined $19.3 million was sent to two separate inclusion groups in Vietnam inclusion groups in Vietnam (why where they separated? Not very inclusive of them). That's over 55 million eggs.

9. Promoting DEI in Serbia's workplaces

USAID sent $1.5 million (4.3 million eggs) to “advance diversity equity and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities.”

10. Funding EcoHealth Alliance, tied to the Wuhan Institute of Virology's "bat research"

EcoHealth Alliance, one of the key NGOs that funded the Wuhan lab's bat virus research, received $5 million from USAID, which is equivalent to 14.5 million eggs.

The bottom line...

So, how much damage was done?

In total, approximately $73.8 million was wasted on the items on this list. That comes out to be 213 million eggs. Keep in mind that these are just the items on this list, there are many, many more that DOGE has uncovered and will uncover in the coming days. Case in point: that's a lot of eggs.

Glenn's Show Prep