Attorney General Letitia James stands with civil rights leaders in salute to FDNY’s bold stance
Sixty years after a brutal response to a peaceful civil rights march in Birmingham, Alabama, the brave individuals who stood their ground as children thanked the FDNY officers who boldly opposed the actions of their Birmingham counterparts. The gathering of gratitude took place Monday, July 10, 2023, at FDNY Engine Co. 1, Ladder 24, located in Manhattan.
On May 2, 1963, the “Children’s Crusade” saw hundreds of African American children march non-violently from the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church to downtown Birmingham to protest segregation. In a shocking response, the Birmingham Fire Department used fire hoses and attack dogs against the unarmed, peaceful protesters. The violent spectacle of young students being assaulted by the city’s own forces shocked the nation and spurred significant legislative action against segregation.
