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NORTH CHARLESTON (WCSC) - In a morning announcement Friday, leaders from civil rights group, The National Action Network(NAN), announced the attendance of Rev. Al Sharpton at a healing service in North Charleston Sunday.

The service, to be held at Charity Missionary Baptist Church, on East Montague Avenue, will start at 10 A.M., with Reverend Sharpton expected to speak at eleven. The group will also host a vigil at 3pm, at the site of the shooting, on Craig Road in North Charleston.

Rev. Nelson B. Rivers III, NAN Vice President of Religious Affairs, said it came down to three factors before extending the invitation.

The first was to honor the wishes of Walter Scott's family, while Rivers said Sharpton's schedule and the collective opinions of local black clergymen also played a role.

Despite national reports of the Scott family asking Rev. Sharpton to not to come, Rivers say the group has been in constant communication withthe family, and says they welcomed him to attend Saturday's funeral service, but he could not because of a prior commitment.

Rivers said the final decision was made in Friday's emergency meeting, where leaders also discussed the role of the church in the healing and restoration process throughout the Tri-County community.

"A lot was said about the city of North Charleston, injustice, the police department, and the mayor," Rivers said.

"We are clear that nothing changes without pressure."

Ministers commended local leaders for charging Michael Slager, the North Charleston policeofficer who shot Walter Scott.

They're expecting to meet with many of those leaders, like North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey, and Police Chief Eddie Driggers, in the coming weeks, after Scott's funeral.

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Al Sharpton to speak at 'healing service' Sunday for Walter Scott

Sharpton Says Daily News' Story Is 'Bogus' And 'Has No Merit' April 10, 2015 10:52 AM

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) The Rev. Al Sharpton has reportedly been told to stay away from the funeral of a black man shot and killed by a white police officer in South Carolina.

The New York Daily News reports the family of Walter Scott has expressed they do not want the reverend, who has attended the funerals of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., and Eric Garner in Staten Island, to attend the funeral.

Chris Stewart, the Scott family attorney, reportedly told the Daily News the funeral will be only for close family members.

However, a statement from Sharpton said the Daily News story is bogus and has no merit.

Sharpton said he has been invited to preach and lead a prayer vigil in North Charleston

There has never been a discussion about me attending or participating in the funeral on Saturday, since everyone knows that NANs convention with thousands of delegates is happening in New York and doesnt end until Saturday night, Rev. Sharpton said in a statement.

I have not decided whether or not I will accept the invitation to preach in North Charleston and participate in the prayer vigil on Sunday. However, I am told the mayor and police chief have said that if I do choose to come they will attend the service as we seek healing and justice in these matters, the statement reads.

As an act of violence once again focuses the nation on relations between law enforcement and minorities,Rev. Sharptonsaid Wednesday that his civil rights organization will stand with the family of the black South Carolina man fatally shot by a white police officer.

Sharpton said he first heard about the shooting from the director of the National Action Network chapter there.

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Report: Rev. Sharpton Told To Stay Away From Funeral For Slain SC Man

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) -- An early morning meeting of pastors for a group of North Charleston churches laid the groundwork for Rev. Al Sharpton to make an appearance in the Lowcountry this weekend as memorials are held for the man shot and killed by a police officer.

Officials said Sharpton will attend a service at Charity Church at 11 a.m. Sunday. He wanted to attend Saturday's funeral for Walter Scott, but has other obligations outside the state.

Rev. Rivers, one of the organizers of the event, cleared up reports that Walter Scott's family had asked Sharpton not to come to Charleston. Rivers said the family never made that request, and in fact welcome him and have invited him to Scott's funeral Saturday.

Rivers said Sharpton has talked with the family and they have developed a strong relationship over the past several days.

The Scott family will be in attendance at at a Sunday afternoon prayer vigil and memorial at the scene of the shooting. That vigil is set for 3 p.m., officials said.

There has also been a peace march organized by Stand Against Violence Everywhere - North Charleston for Saturday afternoon once the funeral has ended. Organizers say it will begin at 4:30 p.m. at Rivers Avenue and Mall Drive in North Charleston and progress to City Hall.

Meanwhile, Rivers said members of area churches are going to be working with the North Charleston Police Department to talk about issues in racial profiling.

It's a conversation that dates back several years.

In 2011, the NAACP levied claims of racial profiling against the department during a forum attended by then-chief Jon Zumalt. At the time, Zumalt denied officers targeted minorities in the community, but said he wants a heavy officer presence in areas with the highest crime.

On Thursday, Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon echoed those statements, adding often they find the concentration of crime highest in minority neighborhoods.

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Pastors: Rev. Al Sharpton to attend Walter Scott's funeral, Sunday service

Civil rights leader the Rev. Al Sharpton (center) with the parents of Michael Brown after the black teenager was killed by a white police officer in Ferguson, Mo., will be in North Charleston on Sunday for a church service and vigil for Walter Scott. Jeff Roberson/AP

The Rev. Al Sharpton is expected to be in North Charleston on Sunday for a church service and a vigil at the site where Walter Scott was shot and killed by a police officer less than a week ago.

Organizers say police from the region will be invited to attend the vigil, calling it an opportunity to recognize some of the problems of mistrust and the divide that exist between the North Charleston community and law enforcement.

I think there are a significant number of police who know the shooting was wrong and agree with us that there should be more police accountability, said North Charleston Pastor Nelson Rivers, a vice president in Sharptons National Action Network.

Sharpton is a controversial civil rights and New York media figure who has a history of advocacy in cases alleging racial prejudice and injustice.

Among his more recent causes were supporting the family of teenager Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black youth who was shot to death in Sanford, Fla., by George Zimmerman.

The case heightened the tension over issues of self-defense and racial profiling. Zimmerman was tried for second-degree murder and was found not guilty in the case.

Sharpton was also a presence during last years tension in Ferguson, Mo., after an unarmed black man, Michael Brown, was killed by a police officer there. A grand jury declined to indict Officer Darren Wilson after a lengthy investigation.

Rivers said Thursday that the vigil is still being organized but that the plan is for Sharpton to deliver a sermon Sunday morning at Rivers Charity Missionary Baptist Church on East Montague Avenue.

Originally posted here:
The Rev. Al Sharpton coming to N. Charleston for church service, vigil for Walter Scott

The Rev. Jesse Jackson held a news conference in Greenville on Friday afternoon and the Rev. Al Sharpon plans to visit North Charleston this weekend.

Jackson discussed the shooting of Walter Scott just after 4 p.m. at Greenville County Square.

Scott was shot and killed by Officer Michael Slager on Saturday.

Click HERE for more on the shooting

The Rev. Al Sharpton plans to be in North Charleston this weekend to preach atCharity Missionary Baptist Church on Sunday.

He told The Associated Press that is message will be that people pursue justice "in a peaceful, legal way."

Anthony Scott, Scott's brother, tells The Associated Press, that a representative of Sharpton's National Action Network has been working with family since the shooting last weekend.

Sharpton says he will not attend Scott's funeral Saturday because of a scheduling conflict. Anthony Scott says the funeral is open to the public.

Sharpton says he plans to preach Sunday morning and then meet privately with members of the Scott family. Later in the day he plans to attend a vigil at the site where Walter Scott was shot.

Read the rest here:
Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton speaks out about Walter Scott shooting