The massacre of nine black people at a historic African-American church in Charleston, S.C., was more than a hate crime; it was a case of domestic terrorism.

The racially motivated attack struck at the very core of that most American ideal: a harmonious, multicultural society. If that is not terrorism, what is?

Skirting around the central issue of this case — obvious racism on the part of the alleged gunman — does an injustice to innocent victims who lost their lives because of the color of their skin.