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Sister of Birmingham church bombing victim says anger over Charl - WBRC FOX6 News - Birmingham, AL

Sister of Birmingham church bombing victim says anger over Charl - WBRC FOX6 News - Birmingham, AL

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Sister of Birmingham church bombing victim says anger over Charleston not the answer

(Source: WBRC video) (Source: WBRC video)
BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) - Few people can truly understand the pain and horror facing the families of those killed in the Charleston church shooting, but some of those few live in Birmingham. 

Lisa McNair's sister Denise was one of four girls killed in the 1963 bombing of Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist Church. The loss has weighed heavily on her family over the years, but she said anger is not the answer.

"We all get angry, I get angry, but that's not going to solve it,” said McNair. “That's not going to make peace. You've got to have love, you've got to show love for our fellow man. You've got to show God's love, even for people who aren't lovely,” said McNair.  

McNair was speaking to a tour group about the death of her sister, in town to learn about Birmingham civil rights, when news broke Wednesday night about the Charleston shooting. She said someone at the event asked her why she continues to talk about what happened to her sister.

“I told them because if we don't know our history we're destined to repeat it,” said McNair, “and we really don't want to repeat these ugly things.”

McNair said event organizers did not tell her about the shooting and she didn't hear the full details until this morning.

“I just was overwhelmed,” McNair said, after hearing nine people had been killed in an apparent hate crime. “I just laid in bed for awhile because it was too much to take. It's so sad for me, sad that we're still doing this to each other 50 years after Denise was killed,” McNair said. “But we're human beings,” McNair added. “And human beings are sinful and flawed and all we can do is continue to pray to God.”

McNair's advice to the Charleston community is to stay strong in their faith in God and hold onto each other for support. She plans to pray for the victims and their families and hopes some good can come out of the tragedy.

“Just continue to try to share love and hope that people will receive it,” said McNair.

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