September 15, 1963 was obviously an important date for the history of the Civil Rights Movement in Alabama, but not just for this terrible event. I do not want to detract from the tragedy that you mentioned, because it is important to remember. But I do want to share another important event in the Civil Rights Movement that happened in Alabama on the same date, sixty miles east of Birmingham in Anniston. Most of you I am sure have heard of Anniston in regards to the Civil Rights Movement because of the attack on the Freedom Riders that happened there on Mothers' Day 1961. For most, that's where the knowledge of Anniston's place in the Civil Rights Movement stops unfortunately. But, in response to that attack in 1961, the city council and mayor shortly thereafter appointed a publicly created board they called the Anniston Human Relations Council, the first of its kind I know in the south, but I think also in the country. It was filled with local civic and religious leaders, both white and Black, with the purpose of trying to maintain positive racial relations as the city integrated. JFK lauded the city for its creation. Over the next 2 years, it worked to do more simple things like getting signage changed within the city to reflect less offensive/more inclusive language and other meaningful smaller steps. Its first major initiative was to integrate the then Anniston Public Library, which was a beautiful Carnegie Library built about 50 years earlier. Blacks at the time were only allowed to use the library on Thursdays and the first Sunday per month, and even then had to use the back entrance and not all rooms were made available. The decision was made to fully integrate the library on a Sunday when Blacks were not allowed, and September 15, 1963 was chosen. The plan was to have two Black ministers, Nimrod Reynolds and William McClain, who were members of the Human Relations Council, go with a few other members and enter the main entrance, check out a book, and to sit and read in the main room. They alerted very few people of the plan, but the belief is that word leaked out to the public due to klan presence in the police department. When they arrived, a mob of around 100 white men was waiting and immediately attacked the two Black ministers. They beat them with fists, clubs, and chains, and Rev. Reynolds was slashed with a knife. Someone (likely a cop) shot a gun in the air which caused a brief window of pause, and they were helped into a car which drove them to the hospital where Rev Reynolds was admitted for his injuries. As you can imagine, this attack set the Black community in Anniston into a state of frenzy. Many wanted to riot that night. And in fact, there was a real concern about it happening. Anniston is home to the Alabama National Guard. JFK had already nationalized the Guard and sent part of it to Birmingham in response to the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing earlier that day. He called the mayor of Anniston and asked whether he needed to mobilize the Guard to Anniston as well. He agreed to allow the city to handle keeping the city secured due to being told sending in the Guard was likely to escalate things for both whites and blacks and due to his knowledge of the efforts of the Anniston Human Relations Council. That night, most in the Black community of Anniston, including Rev McClain, met at the W 17th Street Baptist Church, Anniston's Civil Rights Movement epicenter and Rev Reynolds' church, to discuss what to do. Many showed up with weapons of various kinds, including improvised, and advocated to riot. Instead, at the behest of Rev Reynolds from his hospital room, and due to Rev Williams preaching a message of peace from the pulpit, there were no riots. Instead the decision was made to attempt to again integrate the library the next day. To riot they argued would be a step back for the movement. To integrate, even a day later, would be a step forward. So the next day, September 16, 1963, Rev Williams accompanied by other members of the Anniston Human Relations Council went back to the library and accomplished the integration of the library without further issue.
3 involved got 6 months in jail while 2 others weren't arrested until almost 40 years later and then sentenced to life in prison. One died in 2004, the other in 2020.