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40th Anniversary of Birmingham Bombing
Posted on September 15, 2004
In The Children of Birmingham, Baltimore youth tell the story of young people who put their lives on the line to protest segregation in the 1960's. This beautiful short celebrates the success of the civil rights struggle in Birmingham. It also commemorates those who were lost in the Ku Klux Klan bombing of the historic 16th Street Baptist Church in 1963.
Today marks the 40th anniversary of this bombing, offering an opportunity to reflect on how this country has changed and what transformations are still vital in the struggle for equality in the United States.
Part of remembering this history is maintaining the 16th Street Baptist Church where the bombing occured. 30,000 to 50,000 visit the site each year, but the building is in disrepair:
Nearly a century of wear and an infamous bombing have taken a toll on 16th Street Baptist Church. Some of its walls are cracked, and water often leaks into the ground floor of the civil rights landmark. A campaign to raise money to shore up the historic downtown structure is being launched Monday — two days ahead of the 41st anniversary of the powerful blast that killed four black girls and blew out part of the building's thick, stone-and-brick exterior wall. Repairs are estimated at $3.8 million. The money will be used to dig around the entire foundation and stabilize it, stopping the water leaks that already have resulted in damage to interior plaster and floors.(Associated Press)
Call (205) 251-9402 to donate or help!
Watch The Children of Birmingham.
Read the story from NPR.