Sept. 15, 1963: Four little girls killed in the Birmingham church bombing

[Faygo Kid]

I think this anniversary deserves notice on DU. What might have been.

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/four-black-schoolgirls-killed-in-birmingham

[uppityperson]

1. k&r

[randome]

2. On its own merit, it does deserve notice.

It's also a reminder that America sometimes DOES descend into killing mobs.

[lunatica]

5. This murder was not done by a mob.

from the article:

"A well-known Klan member, Robert Chambliss, was charged with murder and with buying 122 sticks of dynamite. In October 1963, Chambliss was cleared of the murder charge and received a six-month jail sentence and a $100 fine for the dynamite. Although a subsequent FBI investigation identified three other men--Bobby Frank Cherry, Herman Cash and Thomas E. Blanton, Jr.--as having helped Chambliss commit the crime, it was later revealed that FBI chairman J. Edgar Hoover blocked their prosecution and shut down the investigation without filing charges in 1968. After Alabama Attorney General Bill Baxley reopened the case, Chambliss was convicted in 1977 and sentenced to life in prison.

Efforts to prosecute the other three men believed responsible for the bombing continued for decades. Though Cash died in 1994, Cherry and Blanton were arrested and charged with four counts of murder in 2000. Blanton was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Cherry's trial was delayed after judges ruled he was mentally incompetent to stand trial. This decision was later reversed. On May 22, 2002, Cherry was convicted and sentenced to life, bringing a long-awaited victory to the friends and families of the four young victims."

[randome]

6. I guess four isn't quite a mob. Point taken.

[CTyankee]

3. I am without words but in deep admiration and thanks for the struggle that has

transformed us as a nation.

[lunatica]

4. I remember that

Racism was truly far worse than it is today. Those were very ugly days.

[freshwest]

7. Never forget.

[burrowowl]

8. I remember

Thanks for the post

[lordsummerisle]

9. Joan Baez

[Whovian]

11. Wow. That took me to tears quickly.

I remember that day. Thank you for posting this.

[arcane1]

10. Good lord, it took until 2002 to finally convict them??

:headexplodes:

[smirkymonkey]

12. How sad. I am tearing up just thinking about those poor, innocent girls.

Victims of right wing hatred. It must never happen again.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

13. K&R, sadly. (n/t)

[senseandsensibility]

14. Thank you for posting.

K and R.