George Floyd

Montgomery police to adopt #8cantwait policies

The way law enforcement in Alabama’s capital city police citizens is about to change.  Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed and Montgomery Police Chief Ernest Finley announced on Tuesday that MPD will enter the national #8cantwait initiative, which puts forth eight policies meant to reduce hostile police interactions and shootings.  “I along with Chief Ernest Finley believe … Continued

Josh Moon

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June 9, 2020

Troy University fires police chief over offensive posts about George Floyd

Troy University has fired its police chief after he made comments on Facebook saying that George Floyd, who was killed by Minneapolis police sparking nationwide protests, “absolutely” played a role in his own death — among other inflammatory and controversial comments. In a statement Tuesday, Troy said it terminated John McCall’s employment as chief of … Continued

Chip Brownlee

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June 9, 2020

Huntsville mayor: Protestors were given “every opportunity to leave”

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle on Thursday said that police “allowed the protestors to express themselves” before the protesters were asked to leave and that they “were given every opportunity to peacefully leave” before “non-lethal irritants were used.” Battle was referring to the use of tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse a crowd following an … Continued

Brandon Moseley

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June 8, 2020

Confederate monument sparks tension at Gadsden Black Lives Matter march

Gadsden police detained two counter-protesters Sunday after several tense moments between Black Lives Matter protesters and a group who said they were there to protect a Confederate monument near the city hall. The two counter-protestors, a man and a woman, left their group and wandered into the crowd of protestors, kicking off a yelling match … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

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June 7, 2020

ACLU of Alabama calls on cities to address police excessive use of force

The ACLU of Alabama on Friday called on the state’s mayors to address police enforcement of protests and to reimagine the role of police in the wake of the death of George Floyd and others killed by police.  Protestors in Huntsville and Mobile have been tear gassed and shot with rubber bullets by police, and … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

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June 5, 2020

SPLC applauds removal of Mobile Confederate monument

The removal of a confederate monument in Mobile is encouraging, but the state law that protects such monuments should be repealed, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.  The Admiral Raphael Semmes statue was removed during the early morning hours Friday at the request of Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson after being damaged during protests this week.  … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

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June 5, 2020

Hundreds show for Mountain Brook protest over police brutality, death of George Floyd

Allison Coleman asked for a reporter’s pen and wrote a cell number on a bit of paper as she stood among the several hundred people gathered in Mountain Brook to protest police brutality and the death of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.  The Birmingham resident said she needed the number to call a … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

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June 4, 2020

Jefferson County imposes curfew following unrest

The Jefferson County Commission on Tuesday placed the entire county under a curfew. The curfew will be in effect Tuesday, June 2 and last through June 9, 2020. The curfew will run from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. The curfew is in response to unrest that erupted in Birmingham on Sunday night. Though most of … Continued

Brandon Moseley

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June 3, 2020

Birmingham designates park for protests amid ban on demonstrations elsewhere

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin on Wednesday said the city has selected a park where those who wish to hold demonstrations may do so.  Woodfin’s statement Wednesday followed his amended proclamation of a state of emergency on Tuesday that enacted a city-wide curfew and banned demonstrations and marches on city roads and property while the proclamation … Continued

Eddie Burkhalter

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June 3, 2020