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During this time, African American churches were a popular place for community and organized protest against racial injustice. Many civil rights protest started at the 16th Baptist church in the 1960s which explains why it could've been a target for the Ku Klux Klan and white supremacist. As late as the 1960s, Birmingham, Alabama became one of the most segregated and racially discriminatory cities. There had been 2 other bombings in the days leading up the the Birmingham bombing and before this bombing the KKK would routinely called in bomb threats with the intent to interrupt civil rights meetings and church services.

-16th Street Baptist Church

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At 10:22 am, on September 15, 1963 200 members of the church were in the building at Sunday school, right before the 11 am church service. This is when a bomb, planted by the KKK, exploded on the east side of the church and caved in the church's interior walls. Most people in side were able to evacuate safely. But, the bodies of four young girls, 14 year old Addie Mae Collins, Carole Robertson, Cynthia Wesley and 11 year old Denise McNair. Many more are injured in this bombing as well

From left to right: Denise McNair, Carol Robertson, Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley.

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¨A former Freedom Rider describes what it was like walking among the rubble of the 16th Ave Baptist Church.¨

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Remembering the Birmingham Church Bombing

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A former Freedom Rider describes what it was like walking among the rubble of the 16th Avenue Baptist Church

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After the bombing, thousand of black protesters gathered outside 16th Street Baptist Church. When police were sent to break up the protest, violence broke out. Several black protesters were arrested and two men were killed, one by police. Outrage over the death of the four young girls led African Americans to fight harder to end segregation and would help the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The three Ku Klux Klan members who committed this hate crime were eventually convicted. However, it took a whole decade

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Rubble of the Birmingham Church Bombing