“Ruthless” Church Bombing Klansman Up for Parole In August

Thomas Edwin Blanton Jr., a native of Alabama, who was found guilty in the Birmingham Church Bombing, is up for a parole hearing on August 3.

The bombing incident, which led to the death of four African-American girls at the 16th street Baptist Church in 1963, became a significant moment for the Civil Rights Movement. Thomas E. Blanton Jr., one of the four Ku Klux Klan members alleged to have planted the explosives, which resulted in the bombing, is set to make an appearance before the Alabama Board of Pardons and Parole next month, AL.com reported.

Virtually four decades after the tragedy, a panel of adjudicators comprising of four African-Americans and eight whites convicted Blanton on four counts of first-degree murder. He is presently serving four life sentences at the St. Clair Correctional Facility in Springville, Alabama.

Douglas Jones, a former U.S attorney for Alabama’s Northern District said in his statement that Blanton has not till now demonstrated any form of remorse for his barbaric action, neither has he taken responsibility for his deed. Jones, the leader of the prosecution team against Blanton, further said, “I think that’s an important part of parole considerations, and it’s completely lacking in this case.” Jones disclosed to Al.com site that he will oppose Blanton’s release at the August 3 hearing.

It is awful how the American system of justice works: an unarmed Black person can be tagged as a menace but a remorseless bomber is being considered for a parole. A man, who holds the belief that killing of innocent Black people is a normal thing to do, poses a serious threat to the security of the entire nation.

All must join voices to kick against this shameful bias in the judicial system. If Blanton is granted parole, then it might as well seem that there isn’t any justice at all in America and KKK can celebrate one more victory. A monster like Blanton shouldn’t be paroled at any price!

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