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Ry “ _ G\\\— Jasmary 22, 1964 re ae oa, by Rowe 1 } iste Iq4 7 Wood ONIOV3U-0,938 Your letter of January 16th has been received. The FBI's jurisdiction to investigate bombings comes from the Civil Rights Act of 1960 which became effective on May 6, 1960. It is broad in scope, but the Department of Justice has stated that Congress clearly indicated there was no intention in the statute to usurp investigative and 3 prosecutive authority in bombing matters from state and bocal authorities. The _ Department has instructed that the FBI should not initiate investigations into such cases without special Departmental authorization. The facts of each bombing incident are presented immediately to the Department, and the FBI enters a case when requested by the Department to do s0. Due to the nature of the September 15th bombing at Birmingham in which four children were killed, the FBI began an immediate investigation and advised the Department of the action being taken. The complete resources of this Bureau are still being utilized to solve this case. Although the FBI does not actively investigate all bombing cases, it does cooperate in every way possible with state and local authorities. The full facilities of the FBI Laboratory and Identification Division are available to render any assistance. Acting within the law, the FBI has recorded a number of accomplishments in the civil rights field. For example, FBI investigations have enabled the Department of Justice to file more than forth suits in five states _ to end racial discrimination in voting. FBI Agents solved the case involving the | “burning of a Greyhound bus transporting "Freedom Riders” through Alabama in 40" 3961. Six persons have been convicted for their part in this crime. An FBI % jc, investigation in September, 1962, led to the arrest and conviction in state court Wobr = Casper * ABIL ede 2 ve he at . ca a i a _ Continued next page. Ss Een ’ WA Evone Me ve Gale Ff a Le heRY aye ‘ Jmonkecr a) Qs