1963 Birmingham Bombing Survivor Shares Her Story in Rochester

Rochester residents gathered at In Christ New Hope Ministry on Wednesday night to hear the powerful testimony of Sarah Collins Rudolph, the survivor of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama.

Rudolph, who was 12 years old when the KKK-planted dynamite exploded on September 15, 1963, lost her sister and three other girls in the attack. She suffered permanent injuries, including the loss of her right eye, and endured years of trauma.

“For decades, I couldn’t share my pain,” she admitted. “I had so much fear, I couldn’t even return to church.” However, she credits her faith in God for her healing, allowing her to finally speak about her experiences and publish her book, The 5th Little Girl, in 2020.

Invited by the YMCA of Greater Rochester as part of Black History Month, Rudolph emphasized the importance of remembering the sacrifices made for civil rights. Now living in Birmingham, she continues to share her story and serve as Sunday School Superintendent at her church.

Source: Rochester First