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16th Street Church Bombing — Part 18

124 pages · May 08, 2026 · Document date: Sep 15, 1963 · Broad topic: Terrorism · Topic: 16th Street Church Bombing · 120 pages OCR'd
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In Rights Cases FBI Operates Only Under Justice Dept. Orders Washington Bureau agents reported the facts to the. Copley News Service Department of Justice, In only WASHINGTON = The Federal{five cases was the FBI ordered + os to investigate. The Birmingham weawaht inthe cviddle” in the church blast was the latest and there FBI men acted immediately ‘angry protests that have arisen nates following the fatal Sept, 14 bomb-|O&c#use of the fatalities involved. ing of a Birmingham, Ala.,| The other four incidents under church, FBI study — all in Birmingham Four Negro girls were killed in|-~ Were the two May 11 bombings the blast. of the home of the Rev. A. D. W. . ,_. |King, brother of the Rev. Martin FBI agents began an investiga-ly her King: the May 11 blast at tion of the church explosion im- the Gaston Motel and the Sept. 4 inediately and Friday it was an- . nounced that the agents and sher- bombing of the home of A. D. iff's men have determined that|"™ ae the bomb was planted beneath the| “Zhe FBI jurisdiction (under chrch steps and was not thrown|the 1960 Civil Rights Act) is very from a passing car, as originally limited and is not intended to sup. reported. Their investigation is|Plant local and state authority,’ continuing. said one source. “At all times it »foperates directly under instruc- tions from the Department of Jus- ; tice.” In the indignation over the ee No arrests have been reported plosion, however, a number of Ne-|.- 4 bombings in Birmingham, gro and civil rights leaders have but FBI a on gents have been success- accused the FBI of failing tb act ful in a series of investigations in civil rights incidents. Since Jan.|- areata : 3, 1959, there have been 45 bomb- Involving civil rights viowente ves hee in Alabarha, 19 in Birming- tigation of two Negro church . ee, burnings in 1962 im Terrell Coun- Under the Civil Rights Act of ty, Ga., and another at Leesburg, 1960 the FBI cannot investigate| Ga Nine men were arrested after such incidents without direct or-|Fp] investigation of the burning ders from the Department of Jus-!o¢ . Greyhound bus near Anni- tice, regardless of requests for! sion, Ala., in 1981. The bus was help from local authorities. carrying members of the Con- FBI records show that in each|gress for Racial Equality on 2 30- of the 46 Alabama bombings,|called “Freedom Ride.” “We have to solve this one, said one FBI agent. Joliet Herald- News Joliet, Dllinois . _ ny», September 21, 1963 LS 7- JL Ow | Page 9 SOT OSTIRE 2 ees cee ee er et iY
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