Chasing Shadows Chasing Shadows Chapter 4 The Desecrated Sanctuary
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Dec 14, 2023 
Stuart Wexler, an author and researcher focusing on religiously motivated political violence in the U.S., delves into the dark intersections of military leadership and white supremacist movements. He explores the shocking details of the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing and its aftermath, illuminating the public outrage and ensuing riots. Wexler also discusses the FBI's controversial handling of evidence, the moral conflicts tied to informant protection, and connections to attacks on civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr.
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Military Leaders Infiltrated Extremist Movements
- Former military leaders formed a pipeline into white supremacist and Christian Identity movements, blending anti-communism with religious radicalism.
- Stuart Wexler highlights figures like Admiral John Cromlin and Pedro del Valle as prominent extremist sympathizers in the 1950s–60s.
Birmingham Church Bombing And Its Impact
- The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham on September 15, 1963 killed four young girls and shocked the nation.
- The attack targeted a movement hub and intensified momentum toward civil rights legislation.
Follow‑Up Bombs Aimed To Ignite Wider Violence
- Extremists attempted follow-up shrapnel bombings aimed to maim and escalate racial violence during the city's tense aftermath.
- J.B. Stoner and National States Rights Party operatives claimed responsibility for later plots to inflame unrest.
