Four young girls were killed when KKK placed a bomb under their church today 53 years ago. From left to right: Carole Robertson, Carol Denise McNair Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley

On this date, 53 years ago, four young girls were killed as they dressed and prepared to sing at church that day. Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson and Carol Denise McNair were murdered when a blast went off at their church Sunday morning. 22 others were injured.

Four members of the Ku Klux Klan (Thomas Edwin Blanton, Jr., Herman Frank Cash, Robert Edward Chambliss, and Bobby Frank Cherry) planted at least 15 sticks of dynamite with a timing device attached under the church. They then called the church’s office, ominously reporting that those inside had “three minutes.” The blast went off in just one instead and was so powerful buildings up to two blocks away reportedly suffered some damage.

This is “one of the most vicious and tragic crimes ever perpetrated against humanity” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The bombing changed the national conversation on civil rights and is considered one of the main reasons both the Civil Rights Act (1964) and the Voting Rights Act (1965) were passed. Prior to this bombing, the city of Birmingham had earned the moniker “Bombingham” because there’d been a total of 50 bombings during the Civil Rights period. In fact, the 16th Street church was chosen because it was a popular meeting space for activists and integrationists hoping to change Alabama and the rest of the nation.

The four KKK members were tried but not immediately found guilty for the murders of the four girls. It wasn’t until several years later that they were brought to justice. However, Herman Cash, who died in 1994 was never forced to face justice for his part in their murders.

This was just a little over 50 years ago and, to add some perspective, the same year zip codes became a thing, Lamborghini unveiled it’s first prototype and people who were born the same year still have 10 or so years before they can retire.

So we guess it’s today in recent history.