Greater Birmingham Ministries

News

Faith leaders protest outside Sen. Britt’s office, demand Big Beautiful Bill reversal

Clergy and community leaders peacefully demonstrated, demanding an end to cuts to healthcare, food assistance and other social safety net programs.

October 21, 2025

Report: Alabama law strips voting rights from Black citizens disproportionately

A new report shows Black Alabamians face greater odds of losing and not regaining voting rights under state felony laws.

July 30, 2025

Black voters, organizations sue Jefferson County for racial gerrymandering

Alabama continues to be a hotbed for redistricting litigation, most notably the U.S. Supreme Court Case Merrill v. Milligan.

April 10, 2023

Merrill to appeal voter list ruling; federal judge denies fee request

The case originated when Merrill refused to provide voter lists that a federal court deemed public records.

November 1, 2022

Federal court orders Alabama Secretary of State to turn over voting records

Federal Judge Myron Thompson questioned Secretary Merrill's motivations in denying GBM the voter registration records.

October 12, 2022

Judge blocks motion to dismiss lawsuit against Merrill over access to purged voter lists

Greater Birmingham Ministries filed the suit, claiming the Secretary of State's Office refused to release the information without charging "exorbitant fees."

June 3, 2022

Greater Birmingham Ministries sues Alabama Secretary of State over records request

The group says John Merrill refuses to hand over purged voter roll records without a charge even though the records are kept electronically.

February 23, 2022

Civil rights groups send letter to state committee ahead of redistricting

Gov. Kay Ivey announced last week that state lawmakers will gather in a special session to begin Oct. 28 to address redistricting.

October 20, 2021

Federal judge rules against challenge of Alabama’s felon voting law

The lawsuit alleged that Alabama's law was racially discriminatory and imposed cruel and unusual punishment.

December 7, 2020

Groups call for Rep. Will Dismukes to resign, state Legislature to address racist policies

The Montgomery nonprofit Alabama Arise, the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP and Greater Birmingham Ministries in a joint statement on Friday called for Dismukes’ resignation and for the state Legislature to address systemic, racially-oppressive policies.

July 31, 2020