Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden Joe BidenFormer Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick Bloomberg rolls out M ad buy to boost Biden in Florida MORE denounced white supremacy at a ceremony commemorating the victims of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing 56 years ago.

The former vice president compared the motives behind the church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, that killed four girls to recent violent attacks, including the Tree of Life synagogue shooting and the El Paso, Texas, shooting.

"We have not relegated racism and white supremacy to the pages of history," Biden said, according to a transcript obtained by The Hill.

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The 16th Street Baptist Church was bombed in 1963, which marked a turning point in the civil rights movement. Biden said the same ideology that prompted the bombing is driving domestic terrorism now.

"It is only with persistent effort," he said. "It is only with fortitude in our actions. It is only with faith in ourselves and the future that may yet be. That change comes — sometimes slowly, sometimes all at once — and progress continues."

Biden followed the theme of his candidacy announcement, in which he criticized President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE for sparking hate with his language responding to the Charlottesville, Va., white supremacist rally.

The vice president has been leading in the polls but has received criticism for his record on race, particularly on desegregation busing.