BOMBINGHAM
By Marshall
The bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church shocked the world because of its brutality and the fact that it killed four little girls. Their names were Carol Denise McNair, Carole Rosamond Robertson, Addie Mae Collins and, Cynthia Diane Wesley. This moment in American history was one of the most brutal acts of racial violence that occurred during the civil rights movement.
This was a black church and had become an important meeting space for many civil rights leaders. The bombing happened on September 15, 1963. On this day five little girls were in the of the basement of the church, getting ready for service when 15 sticks of dynamite attached to a timer went off beneath the steps, located on the east side of the church. This bomb killed four of the five girls who were in that basement. Sarah Collins Rudolph was the only girl who survived. Twenty-two others were injured from the bomb.
A fact that amazed me was the charge against the man who was convicted was unlawful possession of dynamite! Not murder or executing a hate crime. He went to prison for only six months, but got out after five for good behavior. Another interesting fact is that the four girls were not the only victims. Virgil Ware was another victim of the bombing who many people have not heard about. After the bombing, there was ensuing chaos. He was riding on the front of his brother's bike and was shot three times from a passing car. In the days, weeks, and months after the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church, riots and burnings followed and police reports show that around five fires were started in Birmingham.
When we went to the 16th Street Baptist Church, we saw a plaque on the outside the church said:
This was a black church and had become an important meeting space for many civil rights leaders. The bombing happened on September 15, 1963. On this day five little girls were in the of the basement of the church, getting ready for service when 15 sticks of dynamite attached to a timer went off beneath the steps, located on the east side of the church. This bomb killed four of the five girls who were in that basement. Sarah Collins Rudolph was the only girl who survived. Twenty-two others were injured from the bomb.
A fact that amazed me was the charge against the man who was convicted was unlawful possession of dynamite! Not murder or executing a hate crime. He went to prison for only six months, but got out after five for good behavior. Another interesting fact is that the four girls were not the only victims. Virgil Ware was another victim of the bombing who many people have not heard about. After the bombing, there was ensuing chaos. He was riding on the front of his brother's bike and was shot three times from a passing car. In the days, weeks, and months after the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church, riots and burnings followed and police reports show that around five fires were started in Birmingham.
When we went to the 16th Street Baptist Church, we saw a plaque on the outside the church said:
ye thought evil against me, but god meant it unto good to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. (“16th Street Baptist church Memorial Plaque.” 16th Street Baptist Church, Birmingham).
This verse states that this horrific incident that took the lives on innocent children was able to bring about change. Looking at the church today, we would never be able to tell it had been bombed. It was beautiful and fully restored. But even if we couldn’t see it, we knew what happened there, and the importance of that event.