Biden at 16th Street Baptist Church Commemoration: ‘Hate is on the Rise’

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2019/09/Feature1.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:3872;s:6:"height";i:2178;s:4:"file";s:20:"2019/09/Feature1.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"Feature1-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"Feature1-336x189.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"Feature1-771x434.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:434;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Feature1-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"Feature1-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"Feature1-300x300.jpg";s:5:"width";i:300;s:6:"height";i:300;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"Feature1-553x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:553;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"Feature1-470x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:20:"Feature1-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:11:{s:8:"aperture";i:0;s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";i:0;s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";i:0;s:3:"iso";i:0;s:13:"shutter_speed";i:0;s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";i:0;}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 0
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => error
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:1:{s:4:"full";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:52:"Backup failed: The backup directory is not writable.";}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:0;s:14:"optimized_size";i:0;s:7:"percent";i:0;}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Mary Scott Hodgin
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] =>  WBHM
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

)
1664147845 
1568573417

Parishioners and elected officials gathered Sunday to commemorate the 56th anniversary of the16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham. 

The theme for the memorial observance was “a love that forgives.” During her speech, U.S. Air Force chaplain Lieutenant Colonel Ruth Segres said a love that forgives does not call us to forget.

“We have gathered 56 years later to continue telling the story,” Segres said, “a story that America cannot deny, and we will not allow to be forgotten.”

Birmingham's 16th St. Baptist Church is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mary Scott Hodgin,WBHM
Birmingham’s 16th St. Baptist Church is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Later in the service, former Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden spoke to the congregation. He said remembering the past is especially important now. 

“We are in the battle for the soul of America,” Biden said. “And here at historic 16th Street Baptist Church, there’s no more powerful reminder of what’s at stake.”

Biden said the “same poisonous ideology that lit the fuse at 16th Street” is responsible for several recent mass shootings across the U.S.

“We have not relegated racism and white supremacy to the pages of history,” Biden said. “But the greatness of this nation is that we still strive to.”

Church officials displayed a photo of the four girls killed in the bombing on September 15, 1963.

Mary Scott Hodgin, WBHM
Church officials displayed a photo of the four girls killed in the bombing on September 15, 1963.

At 10:22 a.m., church officials rang the bells to mark the exact time that the bomb exploded 56 years ago. On September 15, 1963, members of the Ku Klux Klan planted a bomb at the historically African-American church, killing four young girls and injuring others.

During Sunday’s service, the crowd recognized Carole Robertson, Cynthia Wesley, Addie Mae Collins and Denise McNair, who were killed in the attack.

Parishioner Armond Bragg, who has been a member of the 16th Street Baptist Church for over 60 years, said the tragedy was a defining moment for the civil rights movement.

“Oh this is history to us,” Bragg said. “On the backs of those girls, we achieved the Voting Rights Act. So those girls have sacrificed a lot for the black community.”

Bragg said he was glad Biden spoke at the memorial service. He said Biden has long fought for civil rights, even before being chosen as former President Barack Obama’s running mate.

The memorial observance ended with the crowd joining hands and singing “We Shall Overcome.” Later in the day, Rev. Eric Manning, pastor of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, preached at the 11 o’clock church service. Officials with the 16th Street Baptist Church also planned to unveil an updated exhibit to commemorate the victims of the bombing.

 

Trump advances TikTok deal with new executive order

The new order says that the deal to turn over a majority stake in TikTok to a group of U.S. investors meets the terms ordered by Congress, and will allow it to stay online in the U.S.

The U.N. utters the word: Dementia

For the first time, the United Nations has issued a political declaration pledging to address dementia. Will it make a difference?

Latest update of 1844 American songbook reflects new generation of ‘Sacred Harp’ singers

An 1844 religiously inspired songbook that uses shape notes to help people read music got a major update recently and it attracting younger singers.

The beat goes on: Marcus Gilmore steps forward at the Vanguard

Drummer Marcus Gilmore joins Christian McBride to celebrate his Vanguard debut and reflect on the legacy of his grandfather, Roy Haynes, while carving his own path with Journey to the New.

Trump advises parents on hepatitis B vaccine. Here’s why doctors say he’s wrong

It's unusual for Presidents to give medical advise. But this week President Trump told parents to delay giving their kids a hep b shot until they turn 12. Doctors say this is bad and dangerous advice.

What we know about the Dallas ICE facility shooting

A gunman fired at a Dallas ICE immigration detention facility, killing one person and injuring two others. Investigators provide updates on the shooting and the gunman.

More Front Page Coverage