Dean statement on the 40th Anniversary of the Birmingham Church Bombing

[KaraokeKarlton]

Statement of Governor Dean on the 40th Anniversary of the Birmingham Church Bombing

Governor Dean made the following statement on the road as he traveled to Alabama this morning:

“In September 1963, I was 14 years old and just beginning the 10th grade. I remember very well the tragic bombing in Birmingham and the senseless deaths of those four girls: Denise McNair (11), Addie Mae Collins (14), Carole Robertson (14), and Cynthia Wesley (14).

“These girls were my age. I knew then that America needed to change. America still needs to change. Although racists bombings are for the most part a relic of the past and voting rights have been extended to everybody, we must never forget the things that these young girls died for—equality for all Americans, programs for affirmative action that ensure access for all Americans when it comes time to apply for a job or for a place in college, and the freedom for everyone to live ordinary lives free of hate and discrimination. Forty years after the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church, we still have much work to do, but I have confidence that working together as a community there’s nothing that we can’t accomplish.”

The 40th Memorial Observance of the Church Bombing takes place tonight at the 16th Street Baptist Church at 7 pm tonight (1530 6th Avenue North, Birmingham, Alabama 35203 (205-251-9402). We hope that those who can attend will join others in remembering this tragedy.

Governor Dean made the following statement on the road as he traveled to Alabama this morning:

“In September 1963, I was 14 years old and just beginning the 10th grade. I remember very well the tragic bombing in Birmingham and the senseless deaths of those four girls: Denise McNair (11), Addie Mae Collins (14), Carole Robertson (14), and Cynthia Wesley (14).

“These girls were my age. I knew then that America needed to change. America still needs to change. Although racists bombings are for the most part a relic of the past and voting rights have been extended to everybody, we must never forget the things that these young girls died for—equality for all Americans, programs for affirmative action that ensure access for all Americans when it comes time to apply for a job or for a place in college, and the freedom for everyone to live ordinary lives free of hate and discrimination. Forty years after the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church, we still have much work to do, but I have confidence that working together as a community there’s nothing that we can’t accomplish.”

The 40th Memorial Observance of the Church Bombing takes place tonight at the 16th Street Baptist Church at 7 pm tonight (1530 6th Avenue North, Birmingham, Alabama 35203 (205-251-9402). We hope that those who can attend will join others in remembering this tragedy.

[Larkspur]

1. Well said, Gov!

Racism is a cancer that continually seeks to destroy our democracy.

[noonwitch]

2. I wasn't born yet when the bombing ocurred

But it was the pivotal event that turned my mother from a moderate/conservative to a liberal.

Spike Lee's documentary "Four Little Girls" is an amazing tribute to the girls. It made me cry for their lost lives and their families' pain.

[ElkHunter]

3. My parents, too.

I was just a grade school kid at the time but I remember the bombing and how bad I felt. My parents supported King and became liberal Democrats. But the Vietnam war moved my parents back to the right. By 1980 my dad voted for Reagan. He's a regular "dittohead" now who often castigates me for being a "socialist." People have short memories. I do not know how they can forget incidents like this and then end up embracing a conservative politics that is similar to what was held by segragationists in the south 40 years ago. Go figure.

[Jax]

4. Racist American born terrorists

is all these dispicable thugs Blanton and Cherry and their ilk were/are. We have always had these American born and bred terrorists in our society. I believe they are currently occupying the Oval office.

So glad Dean is talking about this. Hope many more will. This is an American horror that is remembered every year in our home.

Spike Lee has done an EXCELLENT film about this called "Four Little Girls". I highly recommend it.

On the tombstone of Addie Mae Collin's grave it reads "She died that FREEDOM might live".

Good article today about the terrorist bombing and murders here:
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/chuckcolson/cc20030915.shtml

Thank you for posting this KaraokeKarlton.

Jax