Burns had secretly recorded several conversations with Blanton in which the latter (Blanton) had gloated when talking about the bombing, and had boasted the police would not catch him when he bombed another church. He returned to private practice at the conclusion of Clinton's presidency in 2001. ?” In 1966, Hoover overruled his staff and made transcripts of wiretaps available to Justice. September 15, 2013, marked the 50th anniversary, girls who died are awarded Congressional Gold Medals, statement released by Alabama Gov. Rudolph, who was 12 at the time, told CNN in 2013 -- the 50th anniversary of the bombing -- that glass from the blast flew into her eye, face and chest, blinding her in one eye. She stayed in a hospital for two months after her older sister had died. In his opening statement for the prosecution, Don Cochran presented his case: that the evidence would show that Cherry had participated in a conspiracy to commit the bombing and conceal evidence linking him to the crime and that he had later gloated over the deaths of the victims. One of several vehicles severely damaged in the explosion was found to have carried fishing tackle.[114]). Kay Ivey (R) on Wednesday extended a “sincere, heartfelt apology” to a survivor of the 1963 Klan bombing of a Black church in Birmingham — an … The house is just a few blocks from the historic 16th Street Baptist Church, an icon of the global civil rights movement where four girls perished in a Ku Klux Klan bombing in 1963. "[116] Cochran outlined Cherry's extensive record of racial violence dating back to the 1950s, and noted that he had experience and training in constructing and installing bombs from his service as a Marine demolition expert. [118], Following the convictions of Blanton and Cherry, Alabama's former Attorney General, William Baxley, expressed his frustration that he had never been informed of the existence of the FBI audio recordings before they were introduced in the 2001 and 2002 trials. A march held in memory of the four girls killed in the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama; the march was sponsored by the Congress of Racial Equality and was held in Washington, D.C., in 1963. In 1968, the FBI formally closed their investigation into the bombing without filing charges against any of their named suspects. Following these closing arguments, the jury retired to consider their verdicts. "[19] Another witness to testify was William Jackson, who testified as to his joining the KKK in 1963 and becoming acquainted with Chambliss shortly thereafter. Each received a $100 fine (the equivalent of $843 as of 2020[update]) and a suspended 180-day jail sentence. On the afternoon of May 22, after the jury had deliberated for almost seven hours, the forewoman announced they had reached their verdicts: Bobby Frank Cherry was convicted of four counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Within one week of being sworn into office, Baxley had researched original police files into the bombing, discovering that the original police documents were "mostly worthless". By 1965, we had serious suspects—namely, Robert E. Chambliss, Bobby Frank Cherry, Herman Frank Cash, and Thomas E. Blanton, Jr., all KKK members—but witnesses were reluctant to talk and physical evidence was lacking. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. In his eulogy, Dr. King said, "These children -- unoffending, innocent and beautiful -- were the victims of one of the most vicious and tragic crimes ever perpetrated against humanity. A coffin is loaded into a hearse at a funeral for the girls. Following the bombing, the 16th Street Baptist Church remained closed for over eight months, as assessments and, later, repairs were conducted upon the property. [53] By the time of the announcement, Herman Cash had also died; however, Thomas Blanton and Bobby Cherry were still alive. [1][2][3] Four members of a local Ku Klux Klan chapter planted 19 sticks of dynamite attached to a timing device beneath the steps located on the east side of the church.[4]. ", "Today in 1963: The Bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church", "Justice Story: Birmingham church bombing kills 4 innocent girls in racially motivated attack", "Former Klansmen indicted for murder in 1963 bombing of Birmingham, Alabama church", "Letter From Birmingham City Jail (Excerpts)", "Six Negro Children Killed in Alabama Sunday", "Former Klansman Is Guilty Of Bomb Deaths", "16th Street Baptist Church Bombing Survivors Recall a Day That Changed the Fight for Civil Rights: 'I Will Never Stop Crying Thinking About It, "Killer of Four in 1963 Blast Dies in Prison", "Father Recalls Deadly Blast At Ala. Baptist Church", "The Birmingham Church Bombing: Bombingham", "Remembering the Birmingham Church Bombing", "John Cross Jr., Pastor at Bombed Church, Dies at 82", "Awarding Congressional Gold Medal to Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley", "From the archive, 16 September 1963: Black church bombed in Birmingham, Alabama", "1963 Birmingham Church Bombing Fast Facts", "New Memorial for 16th St. Baptist Church on Sun, 56 Years After Bombing", "16th Street Baptist Church Bombing: Forty Years Later, Birmingham Still Struggles with Violent Past", "40 years for Justice: Did the FBI Cover for the Birmingham Bombers? Although this march was met with fierce resistance and criticism, and 600 arrests were made on the first day alone, the Birmingham campaign and its Children's Crusade continued until May 5. Although never formally named as one of the conspirators by the FBI, Rowe's record of deception on the polygraph tests leaves open the possibility that Chambliss's claims may have held a degree of truth. Described by Martin Luther King Jr. as "one of the most vicious and tragic crimes ever perpetrated against humanity",[5] the explosion at the church killed four girls and injured between 14 and 22 other people. [113] (A fishing float attached to a section of wire, which may have been part of a timing device, was found 20 feet (6.1 m) from the explosion crater[79] following the bombing. FBI bomb experts raced to the scene—via military jet—and an additional dozen personnel from other offices were sent to assist Birmingham. In the end, justice was served. This content is currently not available in your region. Despite repeated demands that the perpetrators be brought to justice, the first trial in the case was not held until 1977, when former clan member Robert E. Chambliss was convicted of murder (Chambliss, who continued to maintain his innocence, died in prison in 1985). Both named individuals were charged with four counts of first-degree murder, and four counts of universal malice. On September 18, the funeral of the three other girls killed in the bombing was held at the Sixth Avenue Baptist Church. It is a sound that I will never forget, that will forever reverberate in my ears. The three-story 16th Street Baptist Church was a rallying point for civil rights activities through the spring of 1963. Kay Ivey on Wednesday apologized to a survivor of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham by the Ku Klux Klan … Blanton, however, hired a lawyer and refused to answer any questions.