Birmingham Leaders Want Civil Rights Sites Declared National Park
People gathered at Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist Church Thursday to remember four black girls who died there 53 years ago. They were killed by Ku Klux Klansmen who planted a bomb that went off before Sunday morning services.
It’s one of several key moments in the civil rights movement that took place in Birmingham. While the names Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley are recognized around Birmingham,they’re perhaps less recognized elsewhere.
That’s why city leaders want those civil rights sites to be part of a new national historical park.
Birmingham Mayor William Bell says discussion began a few years ago, on the 50th anniversary of many civil rights events, about how to raise the profile of the historic sites. He says they were looking for more than word of mouth attention.
“But how do we formally get endorsed as a place for people to come and see,” says Bell.
A couple of things have happened since then. First, Alabama Congresswoman Terri Sewell introduced a bill to designate Birmingham’s Civil Rights District a national historical park. At the same time, city officials began to lobby President Barack Obama to designate the area a national monument through an executive order. They’re different titles, but both under the umbrella of the National Park Service.
“It would mean long term preservation for the facilities,” says Bell. “It would mean increased tourism for the facilities.”
The plans include places such as the 16th Street Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram Park, where kids marching in the Children’s Crusade were met with police dogs and fire hoses. It also includes the A.G. Gaston Motel where Dr. Martin Luther King Junior had his “war room” to plan the Birmingham campaign.
Andrea Taylor is president of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, which would be part of the park. She says beyond the economic benefits of tourism, a designation would say what happened in Birmingham matters.
“We have a lot of history here,” says Taylor. “This is sacred ground.”
A few blocks away from the Civil Rights Institute is the Fourth Avenue Historic District, an area that was a center of black business during segregation. It’s also included in the national park plans. The president of the Fourth Avenue Merchants Association, Quincy Moore, says being part of the designation is a nod to black entrepreneurship and a side of the civil rights movement not always seen.
“This is where a lot of civil rights leaders got their hair cut,” says Moore. “They bought food in this area. They shopped in this area. They partied in this area just to let their hair down.”
Inside Magnolia BBQ and Fish, regular Ronald Williams is picking up lunch. He has heard about the idea for the national historical park.
“It’s long overdue,” says Williams. “It should have been done years and years ago.”
A spokesman for the National Park Service says they have no position on nor involvement in the proposal. A White House spokesman declined to comment on any action the administration may take.
Birmingham Mayor William Bell says though he expects President Obama to issue an order creating a national monument before he leaves in office in January. Bell says the action is worthy of any president, but there would be special significance having the first black president make the designation.
Auburn fires coach Hugh Freeze following 12th loss in his last 15 SEC games
The 56-year-old Freeze failed to fix Auburn’s offensive issues in three years on the Plains, scoring 24 or fewer points in 17 of his 22 league games. He also ended up on the wrong end of too many close matchups, including twice this season thanks partly to questionable calls.
In a ‘disheartening’ era, the nation’s former top mining regulator speaks out
Joe Pizarchik, who led the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement from 2009 to 2017, says Alabama’s move in the wake of a fatal 2024 home explosion increases risks to residents living atop “gassy” coal mines.
‘It’s like feeling the arms of your creator just wrapped around you’: a visit to a special healing Shabbat
Members of Temple Emanu-El in Birmingham gathered recently for their traditional Friday Shabbat service. But this particular service was different, as could be seen by all the people dressed in their finest pink.
Space Command is coming to Huntsville. What might that mean for first-time homebuyers
While Huntsville has been a more affordable market than other growing cities, what’s it been like for those looking for their first home?
Colorado says relocation of Space Command to Alabama is ‘punishment’ for mail-in voting
The litigation announced by Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser asks a federal judge to block the move as unconstitutional.
Breaking down Alabama’s CHOOSE Act
It’s been a year since Alabama legislators passed the CHOOSE Act allowing families to apply for state funds to use towards homeschool expenses and tuition for participating private schools. The Alabama Daily News’ education reporter Trisha Powell Crain has been diving into how the funds are being used. WBHM’s Andrew Gelderman sat down with her to talk about what we’re seeing so far.
