The Wales Window at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama holds an important place in the history of the Civil Rights movement. It commemorates the tragic 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church, a key moment that would lead to the monumental passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

On Saturday night, that history was brought back front and center, emblazoned on Birmingham Legion FC’s special-edition Juneteenth kit, which was unveiled in front of a large crowd at The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute’s Juneteenth: A Celebration for the Culture event, alongside a video narrated by Legion co-owner and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame member Dominique Wilkins.

The new and unique kit is the brainchild of both the club and Black-owned soccer-specific creative agency, Kitboys Club. It will make its debut on the Protective Stadium pitch for Legion FC’s Juneteenth match this Wednesday against San Antonio FC.

“Juneteenth is very important to our entire club and community, so we wanted to drive awareness in a unique way with these kits,” said Legion FC President and General Manger Jay Heaps. “It was exciting to see the fans’ reactions to the kit today. We want to thank BCRI and its partners for allowing us to be a part of such a special celebration.”

The kit is the third commemorative Juneteenth release in the club’s history. As part of the design, a silhouette of the “Four Spirits” sculpture which memorializes the four victims of the bombing – Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carolyn Robertson and Cynthia Wesley –  is located on the bottom right of the kit.

On the inside of the collar with the date in roman numerals on each sleeve is the slogan “A Love That Forgives,” the title of the sermon given at the church on the day of the incident, September 15, 1963.

“We are grateful that our hometown soccer team has chosen to honor the Birmingham Movement of 1963 with this year’s edition of their Juneteenth kit,” BCRI President and CEO DeJuana Thompson said. “It matters that each of us in the community remembers and celebrates the powerful history that we all share in our great city.”

The kit also features luminous 3M detailing in tribute to Kitboys Club’s guiding principle – Black excellence shines bright – which celebrates the remarkable achievements of Black players, coaches and professionals throughout the sport. The detailed fabric represents the nation’s rich and cultural heritage, as well as its ongoing journey towards bringing inclusivity, equality and empowerment through the sermon of soccer.