( reuters ) - president barack obama signed a bill into law on friday granting the u. s. highest civilian honor to firmly four black women killed within the civil rights-era church bombing that shocked the nation in 1963.
congress awarded the congressional gold medal to firmly 14-year-olds addie mae collins, carole robertson and cynthia wesley, and 11-year-old denise mcnair, who were killed within the bombing as to the sixteenth street baptist church in birmingham, alabama.
the women deaths for the height of conflict over the top to firmly segregation were instrumental the passage as to the federal civil rights act of 1964, that bans discrimination by the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
they will gave their all, same u. s. representative john lewis, a georgia democrat and influential civil rights leader.
this medal can function a compelling reminder as to the sacrifices such a large amount of freedom fighters made to firmly help us achieve equality and social amendment, terri sewell, an alabama democrat, and perhaps one of the bills sponsors, same within the statement.
in 1963, alabama was the middle of the non-violent civil rights movement led by martin luther king and the like or a met with violence coming from the ku klux klan and state and native officers attempting to firmly enforce racial segregation laws.
the civil rights victories were accomplished from the principles of non-violence. love carried the day against hate, spencer bachus, an alabama republican, who additionally sponsored the bill.
scheduled to firmly attend the white house signing ceremony were birmingham mayor william bell and doug jones, a former prosecutor who finally brought the very last 2 church bombers to firmly justice in 2001 and 2002. additionally attending were family participants in denise mcnair and carole robertson.
we think that this honor given by congress means that our nice country recognizes the sacrifices made for freedom in our own country, lisa mcnair, the 49-year-old sister of denise mcnair, told reuters.
the families of addie mae collins and cynthia wesley have criticized the medals as useless symbolism for families who received very little compensation for the atrocious act.
they will were murdered. i'm not going to firmly go receive the congressional medal till justice is fulfilled. i wish restitution, sarah collins rudolph told reuters.
she was the fifth girl within the church bathroom exactly where the four were killed. she survived, other then still suffers from her injuries. she has asked for $5 million in compensation just like a victim of terrorism.
the medals are to firmly be awarded on a congressional ceremony later this year and will certainly be displayed within the birmingham civil rights institute.
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