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American Morning

Bobby Frank Cherry Convicted of Four Counts of Murder in Church Bombing in Birmingham

Aired May 23, 2002 - 07:50   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: For the relatives of four African- American girls who died in the 1963 church bombing in Alabama, there is sad satisfaction this morning at the end of a very long wait for justice. Bobby Frank Cherry was convicted yesterday of four counts of murder in the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham.

The former Klansman was given an automatic life sentence, and following the verdict, he accused the prosecution of lying and said -- quote -- "I don't know why I am going to jail for nothing" -- unquote.

Joining us now with their reaction to that verdict, from Birmingham, Eunice Davis, whose sister, Cynthia Wesley, was one of the victims of that bombing 39 years ago. And from Atlanta, Barbara Cross, who was in the church when the bomb went off and testified at the trial against Cherry -- ladies, welcome to both of you. It's nice to have you on AMERICAN MORNING.

Eunice, let me begin with you and get your reaction to this verdict that was so very long in coming. Eunice, can you hear me?

EUNICE DAVIS, SISTER OF CHURCH BOMBING VICTIM: Yes. I think even though it was a long time in coming, I just know that justice has prevailed regardless of how long it has been.

CAFFERTY: Were you surprised by the guilty verdict? They had tried to convict this many before and failed.

DAVIS: That's why it was just in time, the verdict was. And no, I wasn't surprised, not with the evidence after sitting in the courtroom, hearing all the evidence and not seeing any kind of remorse from him. No, I wasn't surprised. I felt like the jury would do what was right.

CAFFERTY: Are you at all angry that it took this long to get justice?

DAVIS: No, I'm not, because regardless of how long it took or it will take, as long as justice has been done.

CAFFERTY: All right. Barbara, you were...

DAVIS: It's never too late. CAFFERTY: Barbara, you were in the church when that bomb went off. You also testified at the trial.

BARBARA CROSS, PROSESCUTION WITNESS: That's right.

CAFFERTY: Walk us through a little bit about what you remember of that day, where you were, what happened.

CROSS: I was in the basement of the church. That's where the youth Sunday school classes were held. And three of the young ladies were in my Sunday school class, Addie, Cynthia and Carole. And after the Sunday school was over, they went to the restroom area. I had planned to go to the bathroom, but my Sunday school teacher gave me an assignment that kept me away from the area where that bomb went off. And about 15 minutes after they left the class, that's when the explosion occurred. I was cut in the head with a piece of the light fixture.

CAFFERTY: When you were sitting on the witness stand in the courtroom testifying, what was going through your mind as you looked at this man?

CROSS: Really to me, he looked like an innocent, older, southern Baptist churchgoing man, but that's probably what the picture they wanted to portray. And plus, he is older now. But that's not the type of life that he lived when he was active with the Klan, and in younger years, he was known as being violent.

CAFFERTY: Were you surprised when they convicted him on all four counts? You said he looked like a churchgoing, elderly, Baptist gentleman.

CROSS: The only reason I was surprised was because they didn't have any taped evidence on him like the victims -- like the person that went to trial last year. It was just hearsay.

CAFFERTY: Let me...

CROSS: And I was shocked.

CAFFERTY: Let me ask both of you this question. As the verdict was brought in and the trial concludes, does this represent closure for the two of you? Or did this experience simply reopen a lot of old wounds and cause additional pain for you? Eunice, let me get your answer first, if I could.

DAVIS: It's not a closure for me, and it has opened a lot of wounds. And it seemed like it was just yesterday in my heart and in my mind. As far as the closure, it would never be an answer to why did these girls, these four girls, these four innocent girls have to die so young. Why is there just still so much hatred in the world?

CAFFERTY: Do you think we have made any progress on that department since that fateful day all those years ago? Are things any better now? DAVIS: To say when they lost their lives, they did bring some type of closeness and togetherness, because we don't have to worry about not using the same restroom -- I mean, we can use the same restrooms now. We can go to the same restaurants. We don't have to be afraid to come out. So it has brought about a change, but for a closure, I've got to find peace in my heart to let my sister go.

CAFFERTY: Barbara, can you put this behind you -- we've got 10- 15 seconds left -- and go on from here? Or do you carry that day with you all the way to the end of your life?

CROSS: I'll never forget that day, but I'm happy that a verdict has been rendered and justice has finally been done to that ugly chapter in Birmingham.

CAFFERTY: All right. Ladies, thank you very much for sharing your thoughts with us this morning on AMERICAN MORNING. Barbara Cross and Eunice Davis on the conviction after 39 years of Bobby Frank Cherry in the Birmingham, Alabama church bombing.

CROSS: Thank you.

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