The shouts of protesters filled the smoky city of Birmingham on September 15th, 1963. Racism during this time was terrible and four young girls lost their lives in a safe place, the 16th Street Baptist Church. They lost their lives because of a bombing in the church caused by the Ku Klux Klan, a group of white people who were against anyone who did not have the same color of skin that they had. But this bombing did not just effect that small city of Birmingham in Alabama, but affected the United States as a whole.
Birmingham, Alabama was notoriously known one of the most racist city in America during the 50s and 60s. During this time, many African Americans turned to churches, as being a safe place and a place where children could go instead of going out to the violent protests. “Twenty-one bombs were set off at African American churches in the city between the years of 1955 and 1963.” (McBirney, The 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing, 2016) Because of all these bombings, the city received the name “Bombingham” However, the 16th Street Baptist Church was a place of sanctuary …show more content…
“Twenty-five FBI agents came to work on the case. Part of what made the investigation hard was the lack of evidence.” (McBirney, The 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing, 2016) However the FBI discovered that the bombers were members of the Klu Klux Klan (KKK). “Their names were Thoman Edwin Blanton, Jr., Herman Frank Cash, Robert Edward Chambliss, and Bobby Frank Cherry.” (McBirney, The 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing, 2016) Unfortunately the case was closed in 1968 and the men were sent free. Problems within the FBI were to blame. However the case was later reopened and Chambliss, the leader of the bombing plan, was sent to jail in 1977. The res of the men were set free until 2000, when the case was reopened again. Cash and Blanton were convicted in 2002. Cherry never served a sentence due to his
Birmingham, Alabama was notoriously known one of the most racist city in America during the 50s and 60s. During this time, many African Americans turned to churches, as being a safe place and a place where children could go instead of going out to the violent protests. “Twenty-one bombs were set off at African American churches in the city between the years of 1955 and 1963.” (McBirney, The 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing, 2016) Because of all these bombings, the city received the name “Bombingham” However, the 16th Street Baptist Church was a place of sanctuary …show more content…
“Twenty-five FBI agents came to work on the case. Part of what made the investigation hard was the lack of evidence.” (McBirney, The 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing, 2016) However the FBI discovered that the bombers were members of the Klu Klux Klan (KKK). “Their names were Thoman Edwin Blanton, Jr., Herman Frank Cash, Robert Edward Chambliss, and Bobby Frank Cherry.” (McBirney, The 16th Street Baptist Church Bombing, 2016) Unfortunately the case was closed in 1968 and the men were sent free. Problems within the FBI were to blame. However the case was later reopened and Chambliss, the leader of the bombing plan, was sent to jail in 1977. The res of the men were set free until 2000, when the case was reopened again. Cash and Blanton were convicted in 2002. Cherry never served a sentence due to his