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The presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden spoke on Sunday morning at Sixth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham on the occasion of the anniversary of the bombing of 1963, which killed four girls. He explained that America had to unite to mark decisive moments in history.
The church also celebrated its recently updated Memorial Nook Sunday, which presents memories of the bombing in the basement where the blast occurred for decades. The area included the clock which stopped at 10:22 am on September 15, 1963, at the time of the bombing that killed Addie Mae Collins, aged 14, Denise McNair, aged 11, and Carole Rosamond, 14 years old. Robertson and Cynthia Wesley, 14 years old.
"It's not a symbolic loss," Biden said. "… that has turned the world upside down and inspired a whole nation – it's personal, and even 56 years later, it's tragic," he said. "This explosion aimed at the very foundations of this community in 1963."
Biden attended the 56th anniversary commemorative Sunday School to commemorate the bombing and spoke before the bells' timbre, marking the moment the bomb exploded more than five decades ago.
Sunday School was taught by Lieutenant-Colonel Ruth N. Segres, chaplain to the US Air Force, and Biden spoke after Segres. The church bells ring at 10:22, as do the family members of the four little girls.
After reviewing the bells, Biden participated in a wreath laying service outside the church, near the wall where the explosion occurred. He was joined by Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and US Senator Doug Jones.
The service began at 11 am, preached by Reverend Caroline S. South Carolina, Manning, pastor of The Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. Mother Emanuel AME was the scene of a shootout in June 2015 by white supremacist Dylann Roof, who killed nine church members during a Bible study. Roof was sentenced to death by a federal jury in 2017.
"It's an honor to be here," said Biden when he stepped onto the podium earlier in the morning. The love in this church is a bit overwhelming. "He also shook hands with the girl who sang before her remarks and called it" beautiful ".
Biden said in his speech, before the ringing sounded before the fatal bombshell shot 56 years ago: "I'm sure that in the first hours after the explosion of the bomb, it was difficult to see through the smoke and rubble until the next day. today, he said.
"While Dr. King praised these girls – perhaps even that he could not have imagined the day nearly 50 years later", the country's first black president would award them the Congressional Gold Medal, one of our greatest civilian honors. It is only with a persistent effort … It is only with force in our actions … It is only with the faith in ourselves and in the future that could still be … This change intervenes – sometimes slowly, sometimes all at once – and progress is continuing, "said Biden.
He spoke of the 1963 bombing and compared it to other acts of violence committed in America, such as Charlottesville, Charleston and El Paso. "Hatred is rising again, we are at a defining moment in American history," said Biden. "Who are we, what do we want to be?" After Charlottesville, I said that I thought we were fighting for the soul of America, and I repeat today, we are to the struggle for the soul of the United States. "
"When our country must again decide who we are, what we stand for …. We remember when the time stopped, and then everything that followed. And we choose once again to fight for a common American dream. "
Prior to Manning's sermon, Biden also spoke of the Charleston shootout against Mother Emanuel AME, claiming that the 1963 bombing had "triggered" events such as Mother Emanuel's shooting. Biden remembered having visited the church when the nine church members had been shot dead in June 2015. "I was amazed by the amazing grace of these parishioners, the families of the victims, with what speed … they had to forgive the killer. I was stunned, "said Biden.
"Hate only hides, it does not go away," said the candidate. "We have not relegated racism and white supremacy to the pages of history. But the greatness of this country has always been and must remain the fact that we are always striving … When the stakes are the most important, when we decide who we are and, perhaps more importantly, who we want to be. "
The ribbon ceremony of the newly renovated commemorative area of the 16th Street Baptist Church was scheduled to take place. The iconic clock will still be present in the basement, but the room where it was exposed has been converted into a movie projection room for the documentary "10:22", on the bombing and praise Funeral given to girls by Reverend Martin Luther. King, Jr.
Another video card in the basement will display messages for visitors and will broadcast videos of oral histories. The walls will be decorated with historical exhibitions.
Biden's appearance comes just days after the last democratic debate, where 10 candidates debated why they should be nominated for the presidency for next year's elections. His remarks also come after 59 legislators from 15 states in South America announced their approval of Biden on Thursday.
According to information from the Biden campaign, 76 legislators from African American states have approved Biden. Juandalyn Givan, representing Alabama, was on the list of people who endorsed Biden on Thursday.
This post has been updated to reflect Biden's comments during his appearance.
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