The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Alabama
Birmingham Remembers 62-Year-Old Tragedy of 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — On Monday, Birmingham commemorated the lives of four young girls—Carole Robertson, Cynthia Wesley, Addie Mae Collins, and Denise McNair—who tragically lost their lives in a Ku Klux Klan bombing at the 16th Street Baptist Church 62 years ago. The remembrance ceremony began with bells tolling at 10:22 a.m., the moment the bomb detonated, followed by a wreath-laying honor.
Rev. Arthur Price Jr. reflected on the tragedy, stating, “The tragedy is that four girls full of promise lost their lives.” The ceremony included performances by the Carlton Reese Memorial Unity Choir and remarks from former Alabama Attorney General Bill Baxley, who reopened the case in 1971 and prosecuted one of the Klan members involved. The bombing fueled significant activism, contributing to landmark legislation like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
A monument in Kelly Ingram Park, across from the church, features figures representing the girls as a lasting tribute. State Rep. Mary Moore also shared her personal connection to the events, revealing her near-miss from the church that day. Moore expressed pride in the impacts of the movement but acknowledged current societal challenges, lamenting, “I don’t know if it was a true change, especially in today’s climate when you see the level of hate.” The ceremonies underscored the ongoing fight for equality and justice.
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