An unarmed black teenager was killed by a white police officer in Ferguson, Mo., and passions erupted into several days of protests, multiple investigations and a running series of rallies and speeches by civil rights leaders and other dignitaries.
Local leaders in Birmingham held multiple prayer vigils, and doves were released at one gathering. Birmingham’s own Mayor William Bell, as president of the African American Mayors Association, traveled to Ferguson last week to speak at a rally. The goal, he said, was to provide a “calming force.”
[Go here to see my follow-up to this column.]
Since the mayor’s trip to Ferguson last Friday, the city of Birmingham has seen six fatal shootings and two fatal stabbings – in six days, and some are asking why there’s not the same level of outrage over violence in Birmingham, particularly when it comes to black-on-black crime.
The temps finally get real hot, and so does the murder rate. Glad summer is over soon. frank matthews, bell, hoyt, etc: where are you??????? Where are the white doves? Marches? Protests? Maybe the mayor of Ferguson should come here. — BMF80
Where’s the outrage? Where’s Al Sharpton? Where’s Jesse Jackson? Where’s the protesting? Where’s the looting? Come on black people! Be mad! Get justice! No justice No Peace! Oh, wait. This must be acceptable because it…I don’t know why. Someone tell me. — wrreagle97
The burst of violence this week has been an anomaly. Birmingham police Chief A.C. Roper pointed out that homicide numbers are down; the city has had 35 murders so far this year, compared to 51 at this time last year.
But that hasn’t stopped the questions from coming.
Source: AL.com | Anthony Cook | acook@al.com
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