50 Years Ago - The Birmingham News Reports on the Ending of Segregation in Alabama

September 1963 was a pivotal month for the Civil Rights Movement and Alabama. Violence increased and change was knocking at the door. No longer could institutional racism, personal racism and Jim Crow laws be tolerated in the United States of America. President Kennedy activated the Alabama National Guard to enforce integration. Terrorism by racist groups in Alabama threatened our state and nation. Children's lives were lost due to the murderous hatred of white racists.

Gov. George Wallace Stand in the Door Speech: http://www.archives.state.al.us/govs_list/schooldoor.html

The ending of Segregation-1963-Birmingham News Stories: http://topics.al.com/tag/This%20Day%20in%201963/posts.html

 September 1963 Daily News Reports From Alabama
Robert Chambliss, Charles Cagle identified as Birmingham bombing suspects (Sept. 30, 1963)

2 men taken into custody in 16th Street Baptist Church bombing (Sept. 29, 1963)

A.G. Gaston, Arthur Shores: 'We still have faith in Birmingham' (Sept. 28, 1963)

King to Birmingham: Negotiate or demonstrations resume (Sept. 27, 1963)

Teens accused of killing Virgil Ware free on bond; Boutwell cuts short New York trip (Sept. 26, 1963)

2 bombs explode in Birmingham but no injuries reported (Sept. 25, 1963)

Emissaries of JFK arrived in Birmingham; injunction signed against Wallace (Sept. 24, 1963)

8 people indicted for conspiracy to interfere with Birmingham school integration order (Sept. 23, 1963)

Teens told of shooting Virgil Ware; Johnny Robinson laid to rest (Sept. 22, 1963)

Editorials denounced Birmingham bombings; Wallace responded to Yale snub (Sept. 21, 1963)

Yale withdrew Wallace invitation, bombing rumors spread (Sept. 20, 1963)

Wallace donated to West End private school effort; school investigation order reprinted (Sept. 19, 1963)

Bombing reward fund reached $76,000; Birmingham leaders called to White House (Sept. 18, 1963)

Carole Robertson laid to rest; Wallace, NAACP criticize bombing investigation (Sept. 17, 1963)

Bells tolled for city-wide minute of prayer; Kennedy called for justice (Sept. 16, 1963)

4 little girls killed in church bombing, 2 young men shot to death (Sept. 15, 1963)

'Dynamite Bob' Chambliss offered $1,000 reward in stabbing of Birmingham detective's daughter (Sept. 14, 1963)

150 student demonstrators filled Birmingham Mayor Albert Boutwell's office (Sept. 13, 1963)

Woodlawn, Banks high school students pushed away demonstrators (Sept. 12, 1963)

In Midfield, 5,000 protested integration of schools (Sept. 11, 1963)

Kennedy federalized National Guard to integrate Alabama public schools (Sept. 10, 1963)

State troopers turned black students away from Birmingham schools (Sept. 9, 1963)

A.G. Gaston: Bombing of home 'doesn't represent the majority of the citizens' (Sept. 8, 1963)

Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth: 'We have come this far by faith -- not by violence' (Sept. 7, 1963)

Federal appeals court ordered Birmingham schools reopened (Sept. 6, 1963)

Birmingham school board officially closed integrated schools (Sept. 5, 1963)

Riots broke out as Birmingham schools integrate, Shores home bombed again (Sept. 4, 1963)

State troopers arrived in Birmingham; 200 people demanded Birmingham schools close (Sept. 3, 1963)

Wallace denounced integration in Labor Day speeches; troopers surrounded Tuskegee school (Sept. 2, 1963) (video)

Pastors urged peaceful response as Birmingham schools integrate (Sept. 1, 1963)

For more information - The Southern Oral History Project on You Tube, A valuable resource for Race Relations history: http://www.youtube.com/user/southernoralhistory/videos