Dem rep: ‘All of us have work to do on race’

Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.) said on Sunday that a mass shooting at a historic African American church in Charleston, S.C. shows America is still struggling with racial tensions.

{mosads}“All of us have work to do on race,” Edwards told host Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday.”

“We can see it playing out in our streets – be it Emanuel AME Church, Baltimore or Ferguson – that we have a lot of work to do,” she added.

Nine people died last Wednesday evening when a gunman opened fire on congregants at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.

The suspect, 21-year-old Dylann Storm Roof was arrested on Thursday morning.

Edwards said on Sunday that the incident should provoke a renewed discussion on gun control.

“I don’t think it is inappropriate to talk about what we need to do to keep guns out of the hands of people who will abuse them,” she said.

Edwards also praised lawmakers and police on Sunday for quickly cooperating on efforts to catch Roof.

“Everyone responded in exactly the right way to bring this young man to the pathway towards justice,” she said.

Reports emerged on Saturday that Roof had posted a website boasting pictures and writings with racist undertones.

He allegedly uttered racial epithets before opening fire on Wednesday evening.

Edwards is currently running for the Maryland Senate seat soon to be vacated by retiring Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D.)

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) is also seeking the seat and will compete against Edwards for it next year.