Park Activation Marks Anniversary of Deadly Bombing

Amateur radio teaches important lessons in history as much as in science and technology and the special POTA activation happening in the US in another week marks a painful part of America’s Civil Rights history 60 years ago. In Birmingham, Alabama, the callsign KØMIK will be on the air on 15-16th September 2023 from the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument in Kelly Ingram Park, which has the POTA designation K-3602. The park is across the street from the 16th Street Baptist Church where on 15th September 1963, while Sunday school children inside were listening to a lesson in "A Love that Forgives," the church was bombed.

Four young women died that day. Their pictures are on the monument that stands facing the church. KØMIK is the callsign of the OMIK (PRON: O-MIKE) Amateur Radio Association, an international organisation that is the largest predominantly Black amateur radio association in the US. The activation will be primarily on 40, 20, 17 and 15m using CW, SSB and satellite. Tom Gaines KB5FHK told Newsline that anyone living in or visiting the Birmingham area that weekend is welcome to stop by the activation which is also part of OMIK's ongoing POTA challenge.