Dylann Roof murder case

On Friday, a federal judge ruled that white supremacist and accused mass murderer Dylann Roof is competent to stand trial on 33 counts of hate crimes, firearms charges and the murder of nine parishioners at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C., in June 2015.

Roof, 22, told police when he was taken into custody that he shot the nine members of the prominent black church during a Bible study because he wanted to provoke sufficient outrage to spark a race war. There was plenty of public outrage, but it was directed at Roof, who exuded a creepy vibe from his first moments in custody.

The beginning of Roof’s trial was originally scheduled for Nov. 7, but his lawyers delayed it until his ability to aid in his own defense could be determined.

On Monday, a federal judge granted Roof’s motion to represent himself.

Now, a trial finally looms. It’s not just those who knew and loved the victims who need to see justice done, but Charleston and the people of the United States need to see it, too.

One can debate whether the racism that allegedly drove Roof to kill nine people at a Bible study was ultimately a form of insanity, but it is important that he answer for it. Virulent racism very well could be a form of insanity, but that shouldn’t exempt those who embrace it from paying for acts committed while being racist. This editorial appeared on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.