South Carolina city council OKs slavery apology resolution

CHARLESTON, S.C. — In Charleston, South Carolina, once a key slave trading port, the City Council has voted to apologize for slavery.

By voice vote, the Charleston City Council on Tuesday approved a resolution denouncing slavery, promising tolerance in the future and proposing an office of racial reconciliation.

The vote coincided with “Juneteenth,” a celebration of the end of slavery, and came just two days after the third anniversary of a racist attack by a white man killed nine black members of a Charleston church.

In expressing support, Councilman William Dudley Gregorie compared slavery with the federal immigration policy that has resulted in children being separated from their families.