The mayor of Nashville, Freddie O’Connell, has requested the police to reopen investigations into three unsolved bombings from the Civil Rights era. This decision came after a local author, Betsy T. Phillips, published a book linking the attacks to a terrorist network with connections to the Ku Klux Klan.
Phillips’ book, “Dynamite Nashville: Unmasking the FBI, the KKK, and the Bombers Beyond Their Control,” was released on July 16 by Third Man Books, founded by musician Jack White. The book identifies possible suspects and details the bombings that targeted an integrating elementary school, a Jewish community center, and a civil rights lawyer’s home.
Since the publication of the book, people have come forward with information about the bombings. Phillips expressed her excitement about individuals sharing their stories, stating, “Finally, I have somebody to tell this thing I have been carrying around with me.”
The Nashville Metropolitan Police Department is currently in the early stages of reopening the investigations, according to police spokeswoman Kristin Mumford. She mentioned that they are figuring out the best approach to proceed with the investigations.
Mayor Freddie O’Connell announced his request for an investigator from the cold case unit to lead the investigation into the bombings at an event for the book on July 13.
The community’s response to the book and the subsequent reopening of the investigations highlights the importance of addressing unresolved issues from the past. It also serves as a reminder of the impact of racial terrorism during the Civil Rights era and the need to seek justice for the victims and their families.
As new information emerges and investigations progress, there is hope that these unsolved bombings will finally be solved, bringing closure to the affected communities and shedding light on a dark chapter in Nashville’s history.