History Daily The Final Conviction in Birmingham’s Baptist Church Bombing
May 22, 2025
Explore the harrowing events surrounding the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. Discover the racial tensions and law enforcement struggles that made justice seem elusive. Learn about the FBI’s challenges with Klan suspects and the tireless efforts of an attorney who reignited the case decades later. The emotional conviction of Bobby Frank Cherry in 2002 finally provided closure for victims’ families, marking a significant moment in the civil rights movement.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
The 1963 Church Bombing
- On September 15, 1963, a bomb exploded at Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist Church, killing four young girls.
- The blast shocked the city and nation, marking a heinous moment in the civil rights movement.
Witness Saw Klansmen Pre-Bombing
- Curtis Glenn spotted a suspicious car with Ku Klux Klan members near the church hours before the bombing.
- Her observation helped identify the suspects involved in planting the bomb.
The Radical Cahaba Boys KKK
- The Cahaba Boys, a KKK splinter group, were more radical and violent than the main Klan.
- Their violent acts often went unpunished due to ties with local law enforcement and politicians.