Forum/Discussions

Congresswoman Terri Sewell along with Birmingham Mayor William Bell will be joined by women of the civil rights movement inBirmingham during the 1960s to call on President Obama to use the power of the executive order to create a Civil Rights National Historical Park that tells the story of a critical chapter in the fight for equality. The peaceful protests in Birminghambroke the back of segregation and led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  

Myrna Jackson, Civil Rights icon and activist will be present and speak of her work during the April demonstrations in 1963, for which she was arrested twice and held in the Birmingham Jail. Carolyn McKinstry, a survivor of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham that took the lives of the four little girls, her young friends, will speak as well as Paulette Roby, veteran of the children's marches in Birmingham.

Legislation was introduced in March of this year by Congresswoman Sewell, but the hope is for the action to be signed into existence by the President himself. "The establishment of a national park that honors Birmingham's place in the history of the Civil Rights Movement will also give us space to reflect on the many challenges we still face today. The relevance of the events inBirmingham during the 1960s still speaks to every African American today as we wrestle with equality, economic empowerment and social justice," said Mayor William Bell.

The group will travel with Congresswoman Sewell for various meetings with representatives and agencies throughout the day.

Contact:
April Odom
(205) 807-7411

SOURCE Birmingham Mayor's Office of Public Information