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The home of Martin Luther King, Jr., was in Atlanta, Georgia. When in Birmingham, Rev. King stayed at the A. G. Gaston Motel, a segregated facility for blacks. |
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The home of Martin Luther King, Jr., was in Atlanta, Georgia. When in Birmingham, Rev. King stayed at the A. G. Gaston Motel, a segregated facility for blacks. |
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A bomb exploded at the Gaston Motel
close to the room used by Martin Luther King, Jr.
In 2002 the Gaston Motel was empty and abandoned with only one room occupied. |
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Fortunately Rev. King was at home in
Atlanta the night of the bombing of the Gaston Motel. He thus
escaped injury or possibly death.
The bombing sparked a riot in the black community in Birmingham. The white leadership quickly agreed to a negotiated settlement that racially integrated the city. |
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Four months later, on Sunday, September 15, 1963, a time bomb exploded under the back steps at the 16th Street Baptist Church. The bomb killed four black teen-age girls. They were preparing for the 11 A.M. services on "Youth Sunday." |