Change history

On Sept. 15, 1963, four African-American girls were killed by a bomber at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala.

After years of violence, this act of racial terrorism targeting children marked a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement and contributed to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

And now, nearly 50 years later, we can hope and pray the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary will again unite Americans to take action not only to protect our children but also change the course of American history.

William Gray

Raleigh