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SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2015

Classifieds E1Comics D8Obituaries B5

Puzzles D3Television D2The Vent B2

©2015 AJC, VOL. 67, NO. 178PRINTED WITH SOY INK ON RECYCLED PAPER

By Marlon A. Walkermarlon.walker@ajc.com

CHARLESTON, S.C. — PresidentBarack Obama on Friday eulo-gized the pastor slain in a rac-ist massacre at a historicallyblack South Carolina church,using a turn at the pulpit todeliver an impassioned call to

action on race relations, thenlifted an emotional crowd ofmourners to their feet as heled a rendition of “AmazingGrace.”

Obama remembered theRev. Clementa Pinckney as “agood man.”

“In the pulpit by 13, pas-tor by 18, public servant by 23.He set an example worthy ofhis position, wise beyond hisyears,” Obama said.

“What a life ClementaPinckney lived. What an ex-ample he set. What a model

for his faith.”Mourners had begun lin-

ing up before dawn to bid fare-well to Pinckney, 41. A belovedpastor and state senator, hewas one of nine worshippersgunned down last week whilethey studied the Bible at Eman-uel AME Church in Charleston.The confessed shooter, DylannRoof, has been charged withnine counts of murder. Roof,21, told authorities he hoped tostart a race war.

Obama eulogy: Amazing Grace, race, guns, flagEmotional presidentleadsmourners in song,addresses racial divide.

Obama continued on A7

TRAGEDY INCHARLESTON

President Barack Obama said agunman seeking to start a racewar had instead united commu-nities. WIN MCNAMEE / GETTY IMAGES

By Shelia M. Poolespoole@ajc.comand Daniel Malloydmalloy@ajc.com

A landmark U.S. SupremeCourt ruling legalizing same-sex marriage may havechanged the law of the land,but it will do little to changethe minds of people like theRev. Jack Lee.

“I’m disappointed thatthey ruled against what I be-lieve is the biblical princi-ple for marriage, which isone man and one woman,”said Lee, pastor of the 700-member Altamaha BaptistChurch in Jesup. “As far asour church, we will stay thecourse of our convictions.Our higher authority is notthe Supreme Court, but it isGod.”

In a 5-4 ruling, the courtsaid states cannot ban same-sex marriage, a decisionthat was expected but notwelcomed by some faithleaders and politicians.Religious bodies are notaffected by the ruling andcan decide on their ownwhether to perform same-sex marriages.

In a way, opponents wereswimming against a culturaltide.

Opponentsfrustrated,cite Bible

Opponents continued on A5

By Craig Schneidercschneider@ajc.com

The U.S. Supreme Courtredefined the institutionof marriage Friday toinclude same-sex couples,enshrining in law amonumental change thatwas unthinkable just a fewdecades ago.

The deeply divided courtruled 5-4 that same-sexcouples have a constitutionalright to marry, and that all50 states must recognize thespousal rights of those whohave already tied the knot.

A watershed momentin American culture, thedecision signifies an evenmore radical change here inGeorgia. The state was oneof 13 that dug in their heelsin rejecting same-sex unions.New York, California and 35other states had legalizedgay marriage. Georgia votersbanned it in 2004.

That changed Friday,a day in which gay andlesbian advocates took to thestreets in celebration. Forthem, Friday was a day ofvalidation and vindication,filled with tears of joy and,in courthouses across metroAtlanta, hurried marriagevows.

GAYMARRIAGESBEGIN

Marriage continued on A6

Boyd Beckwith (left) and Jerry Hill, who have been together for 23 years, kiss after exchanging vowsFriday. Their wedding occurred just hours after the Supreme Court cleared the way for same-sexmarriages in Georgia and across the nation. BEN GRAY / BGRAY@AJC.COM

MYAJC.COM INSIDE TODAY

Our premium website has thefull text of the ruling and thedissents, plus photo galleriesand video from aroundAtlanta and the nation.

»Couples in Georgia begin tyingthe knot, but concerns linger, A4

» Impact could reach beyondtangible, legal benefits, A5

»Georgians weigh in on theSupreme Court’s ruling, A6

Ga. hadpushedfor ban

THERULING

» Justices vote 5-4 tolegalize gaymarriage

across the United States.

THEREACTION

»Gay couples beginexchanging vows

acrossmetro Atlanta.

THEOPPOSITION

»Ministers decrymoraldecline; politicians vowthe fight will continue.

A crowd celebrates outside of the U.S. Supreme Court. Audrey Miles and Matt Bass joined Atlanta backers. Protesters demonstrated at the Supreme Court.