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Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant’s Black Church Target Boycott Mobilizes 150,000 and Growing

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Birmingham Times
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A push to boycott Target has gained momentum since the retail giant announced it would discontinue its initiatives following the Trump Administration’s rollback of federal DEI programs. (Taurus Emerald, Wikimedia Commons)

By Stacy M. Brown
BlackPressUSA.com Senior National Correspondent

The Rev. Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant, an Atlanta-based pastor of the New Birth Baptist Church, has reported a robust national turnout for his consumer boycott against Minneapolis-based retail giant Target.

Dr. Jamal Bryant. (Provided)

The fast-selective-buying campaign, which began during the Lent Season from March 5 to April 17, targets what Bryant describes as the company’s neglect of the Black community. According to Bryant, the boycott has mobilized over 150,000 participants and persuaded over 100 Black vendors to withdraw their products from Target. The movement has led to a $12 drop per share in Target’s stock and a $2 billion decrease in its overall value.

“We just hit 150 thousand people who have signed up to be part of it, with over 100 black vendors that pulled out of Target, so the momentum is going steadily,” Bryant explained.

The NAACP and the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), representing the Black Press of America, have simultaneously announced the planning and implementation of a national public education and selective buying campaign in response to Target and other corporations that have dismantled their respective Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) commitments, programs and staffing.

“Now is the time for the Black Press of America once again to speak and publish truth to power emphatically,” NNPA Chairman Emeritus Danny Bakewell Sr. explained.

“We are the trusted voice of Black America, and we will not be silent or nonresponsive to the rapid rise of renewed Jim Crow racist policies in corporate America,” said NNPA Chairman Bobby R. Henry Sr. “The Black Press of America continues to remain on the frontline keeping our families and communities informed and engaged on all the issues that impact our quality of life.”

Despite the traction, Bryant revealed that there had been no communication or planned meetings with Target. He humorously speculated that the White House may have encouraged Target officials to avoid meeting with civil rights groups.

“No, we’re waiting. As we understand it, the administration is trying to get them not to meet and is hoping that this is just going to taper off,” Bryant remarked. “But unless President [Trump] is in trouble and buys a whole bunch of toilet paper, I don’t know what they expect the White House to do for them.”

Bryant also discussed the Black Church leadership’s historical and present role in America’s civil rights and social justice movements.

“The Black Church has always been the heartbeat and the epicenter of the civil rights movement,” he said, acknowledging the changing perceptions among younger generations regarding the church’s involvement in social justice.

Bryant called for continued focus and support from the community to maintain the boycott’s impact.

“It is critical that Black people can’t afford to get A.D.D; we can’t taper off and lose synergy. It’s important that people stay the course and keep amplifying our voices because it is being heard from Wall Street to Main Street,” he urged.

NNPA President & CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. said he’s known and witnessed the national and international rise of the Black Church leadership and commitment to Bryant.

“In the tradition of Richard Allen, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we are pleased to state for the sake of historical accuracy that Jamal Bryant is today the personification of the prophetic tradition of the Black Church,” Chavis remarked. “We in the Black Press of America stand in rigid solidarity with Rev. Dr. Bryant as we target campaign Target’s egregious disrespect of Black America.”

George Foreman, the Fearsome Heavyweight Who Became a Beloved Champion, Dies at 76

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Birmingham Times
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George Foreman, former world heavyweight boxing champion, died Friday at the age of 76, his family said. (Wikimedia)

BY GREG BEACHAM | Associated Press

George Foreman, the fearsome heavyweight who lost the “Rumble in the Jungle” to Muhammad Ali before his inspiring second act as a 45-year-old champion and a successful businessman, died Friday night. He was 76.

Foreman’s family announced his death on social media, not saying how or where he died.

“A devout preacher, a devoted husband, a loving father, and a proud grand- and great-grandfather, he lived a life marked by unwavering faith, humility and purpose,” his family wrote. “A humanitarian, an Olympian and two-time heavyweight champion of the world, he was deeply respected. A force for good, a man of discipline, conviction, and a protector of his legacy, fighting tirelessly to preserve his good name— for his family.”

A native Texan, Foreman began his boxing career as an Olympic gold medalist who inspired fear as he climbed to the peak of the heavyweight division by stopping Joe Frazier in 1973. His formidable aura evaporated only a year later when Ali pulled off one of the most audacious victories in boxing history in Zaire, baiting and taunting Foreman into losing his belt in one of the greatest fights ever staged.

Foreman left the sport a few years later, but returned after a 10-year absence and a self-described religious awakening.

The 45-year-old then pulled off one of the most spectacular knockouts in boxing history in 1994, flooring Michael Moorer — 19 years his junior — with one perfect combination to claim Moorer’s two heavyweight belts.

Foreman’s transformation into an inspirational figure was complete, and he fought only four more times before moving onto his next career as a genial businessman, pitchman and occasional actor.

The George Foreman Grill

He was best known as the face of the George Foreman Grill, which launched in the same year as his victory over Moorer. The simple cooking machine sold more than 100 million units and made him much wealthier than his sport ever did.

“George was a great friend to not only myself, but to my entire family,” Top Rank president Bob Arum said. “We’ve lost a family member and are absolutely devastated.”

In the first chapter of his boxing career, Foreman was nothing like the smiling grandfather who hawked his grills on television to great success.

Foreman dabbled in petty crime while growing up in Houston’s Fifth Ward, but changed his life through boxing. He made the U.S. Olympic team in 1968 and won gold in Mexico City as a teenager, stopping a 29-year-old opponent in a star-making performance.

Foreman rose to the pinnacle of the pro game over the next five years, but was also perceived as an aloof, unfriendly athlete, both through his demeanor and through the skewed racial lenses of the time. He stopped Frazier in an upset in Jamaica in January 1973 to win the belt, with his knockout inspiring Howard Cosell’s iconic call: “Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!”

Foreman defended his belt against Ken Norton before accepting the fight with Ali in the now-immortal bout staged in Africa by promoter Don King. Ali put on a tactical masterclass against Foreman, showing off the “rope-a-dope” strategy that frustrated and infuriated the champion. Foreman was eventually knocked down for the first time in his career, and the fight was stopped in the eighth round.

Foreman told the BBC in 2014 that he took the fight almost out of charity to Ali, who he suspected to be broke.

“I said I was going to go out there and kill him, and people said, ‘Please, don’t say you’re going to kill Muhammad,’” Foreman said. “So I said, ‘OK, I’ll just beat him down to the ground.’ That’s how easy I thought the fight would be.”

Return To Boxing

Exhausted and disillusioned, Foreman stopped fighting in 1977 and largely spent the next decade preaching and working with kids in Houston after his religious awakening. He returned to boxing in 1987 in his late 30s with a plan to defy time through frequent ring appearances, and he racked up a lengthy series of victories before losing to Evander Holyfield in a surprisingly competitive title fight in 1991.

Three years later, Foreman got in the ring with Moorer in Las Vegas, more for his celebrity than for his perceived ability to beat Moorer. The champion appeared to win the first nine rounds rather comfortably, with Foreman unable to land his slower punches. But Foreman came alive in the 10th, hurting Moorer before slipping in the short right hand that sent Moorer to the canvas in spectacular fashion.

Foreman quit the ring for good in 1997, although he occasionally discussed a comeback. He settled into a life as a boxing analyst for HBO and as a pitchman for the grills that grew his fame and fortune. He briefly starred in a sitcom called “George” in the 1990s, and he even appeared on the reality singing competition “The Masked Singer” in 2022. A biographical movie based on his life was released in 2023.

Foreman had 12 children, including five sons who are all famously named George Edward Foreman.

“Legendary boxing champion, life-changing preacher, husband, father, grand- and great-grandfather and the best friend you could have,” WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman wrote on social media. “His memory is now eternal, may Big George rest in peace.”

___

AP boxing: https://apnews.com/boxing

With Felony Law Now in Place, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin Warns Users of Glock Switches

By
Birmingham Times
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Nick Cannon praised Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott from record homicide decreases in the first half of 2025.(File)

By Nick Patterson | npatterson@al.com

In 2025, AL.com’s “Beyond the Violence” project, in partnership with The Birmingham Times, examines how Birmingham can become safer, healthier and happier.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin this week warned users of Glock switches and machine gun conversion devices that a new state law triggers new rewards offered for their arrest.

Woodfin said the Crime Stoppers program would facilitate $1,000 rewards for the arrest of people caught in posession of gun conversion devices. Gov. Kay Ivey signed a law that makes possession a Class C felony March 19.

The Senate approved the bill on Tuesday with an amendment brought forth in the House that put the proposed law into effect as soon as Ivey signed it.

As he has often done in the past, Woodfin turned to social media, as well as the city public information department, to relay the message.

“Dear switch boys,” he began. “Governor Ivey signed a law today that makes possessing a Glock switch illegal. Simple possession satisfies law and you can receive up to 10 years in prison.

“Law enforcement up one and BPD is outside ready to put case on all of y’all.

“We are also partnering with Crime Stoppers for community members to call in and remain anonymous. If your call leads to a credible arrest for someone who possesses a Glock switch, you will receive $1,000.”

Woodfin encouraged calling Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777, and in a part of the message aimed at the general citizen, wrote, “Help us get these switch boys off our streets.”

Semiautomatic weapons displayed at a news conference where federal prosecutors talked about the increasing problem of the use of small devices often called Glock switches to convert guns to automatic. Possession of the devices violates federal law. (Mike Cason, AL.com)

He finished with another warning to “switch boys”: “Y’all were hell in 2024. We putting serious heat on yall in 2025.”

Machine gun conversion devices, that render a regular handgun capable of firing rapidly like an automatic weapon, have been frequently cited as contributing factors to Birmingham’s record-breaking year of homicides, in which 152 people were killed.

The Woodfin administration and city police department have recently ramped up efforts aimed at stopping the violence.

Interim Police Chief Michael Pickett told AL.com in an earlier interview that machine gun conversion devices were increasingly a target for crime prevention efforts — but only part of the effort.

“A part of the gun violence strategy is having a crackdown on the gun trafficking in and of itself, for guns, and also the machine gun conversion devices as well as focusing on straw purchases, young men, young women or older men, older women that want to purchase a weapon, knowing that they’re simply going to hand it off to someone else,” he said.

Pickett said that having a state law against possessing a machine gun conversion device would give local police another tool.

Responding to questions about why a state law against Glock switches is needed when they’re already in violation of federal law, Woodfin said, “There’s a state law for robbery. There’s a state law for assault. There’s state law for everything else. That’s a federal law. So why wouldn’t you do it for, I would say for Birmingham?

“The most heinous crimes that were committed were with the use of Glock switches. There’s no other intent to have this but to spray a lot of bullets that hurt, that cause mass casualties.”

The Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Seeking Volunteers for its Community Emergency Response Team Training

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Birmingham Times
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The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may occur where they live. (Provided)

birminghamal.gov

When emergencies happen, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members can give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site.

CERT training includes disaster preparedness, disaster fire suppression, basic disaster medical operations, and light search and rescue.

Have you ever asked the question, “How can I help my community during an emergency?”

If you would like to learn lifesaving skills such as first aid, lite search & rescue or disaster recovery, the CERT program is an excellent fit. It helps train people how to best respond and prepare for emergency situations in their communities.

The CERT program offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks.The Community Emergency Response Team CERT program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may occur where they live.CERT trains volunteers in basic disaster response skills, such as:

• Fire safety

• Light search and rescue

• Team organization

• Disaster medical operations

Drills and Exercises

Drills are excellent opportunities for CERT programs to practice, assess and improve emergency response plans and on-the-ground operations while engaging their volunteers and refreshing the concepts and skills learned in CERT training.

These exercises were developed according to national guidance and principles outlined by the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program. It is important that CERT programs tailor their exercises to reflect realistic events that may impact their community to practice skills they need to test or practice most.

The CERT Liability Guide is offered for general informational purposes only, and is intended to educate CERT program managers, volunteers, sponsoring agencies, and legal advisors about liability and risk management.

History of CERT

The CERT concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 1985. The Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 underscored the area-wide threat of a major disaster in California. Further, it confirmed the need for training civilians to meet their immediate needs.CERT became a national program in 1993.

There are now CERT programs in all 50 states, including many tribal nations and U.S. territories. Each is unique to its community and all are essential to building a Culture of Preparedness in the United States. There are more than 3,200 local CERT programs nationwide and more than 600,000 people have trained since CERT became a national program.

Register Now!

Schedule

Date: April 1 – May 27, 2025 (Tuesdays)
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Location

Fire Station #2 Upstairs Classroom
600 11th Street South
Birmingham, AL 3523

Questions?

Email: pubed@birminghamal.gov
Phone: (205) 254-6560

Here’s How You Can Get Ready for Tax Season this Year

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Birmingham Times
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Some tax tips are universal to all filers, while other advice may be specific to those who operate small businesses or work for themselves. (Provided)

Sponsored By JPMorganChase

Filing taxes is an exercise almost all Americans go through in the first part of each year, but those tax filings can differ based on a number of factors, including our income levels, where we live and our employment status.

Some tax tips are universal to all filers, while other advice may be specific to those who operate small businesses or work for themselves. Self-employed filers have certain distinct tax considerations, and general advice may not always apply to those who work for themselves or employ others. Changes to the tax code, especially with a shift in presidential administrations, could also have an effect on tax obligations, and may have a different impact on self-employed filers.

If you’re a small business owner or otherwise self-employed, here are some things you should keep in mind to help you get through this tax season.

Gather your documents

Have a detailed log on hand of the money coming in and out of your business. Even if you have an electronic system in place, items like sales slips, bills, invoices, receipts and canceled checks are generally key supporting documents for calculating and validating your tax filings. Organize these records and keep them in a safe place. If your business employs others, keep track of your payroll records, including documents showing wages, benefits and withholding.

If you’re a business owner…tailor taxes to your business structure

Your tax filing obligations depend on the type of business you’re running. If you’re self-employed, you might be considered a sole proprietorship, meaning you own and operate your unincorporated business as an individual or married couple. Sole proprietors generally report business income and losses on their personal U.S. federal income tax return (using Schedule C), but you could have other taxes and filing requirements, such as those related to self-employment earnings.

Other business structures include Limited Liability Companies (LLC), Limited partnerships (LP), C Corporations and S Corporations. Get familiar with the specific tax requirements for your business structure.

Don’t forget state taxes

If you reside in a state that imposes income tax, calculate your state tax liability using the process applicable to that state. Tax rules may vary by state and some states have their own tax credits and deductions for businesses.

Meet your deadlines

The deadline for filing federal individual income tax returns in 2025 is Tuesday, April 15. If you need more time, you can generally file for an extension, pushing the deadline to Oct. 15. This extension applies only to the filing of the return – you still must pay any taxes owed by April 15. State income tax deadlines can vary – many are the same as the federal deadline but check with your state’s tax agency for your specific due date.

Ask the experts

Speaking with a tax professional who can help you determine good strategies for your business can help you remain compliant and successful. Consult a tax professional before making decisions about how to structure and strategize for your business.

Keep up with tax changes

As we’ve entered a new presidential administration in 2025, any tax code changes enacted this year would likely go into effect next tax season at the earliest. Of note: Many of the provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, passed in 2017, are currently set to expire at the end of 2025. That expiration or any potential new changes may impact your 2026 taxes when you file in 2027.

The bottom line

Staying on top of your taxes can be among the most time-consuming tasks for a business owner. Consider working with an accountant or tax professional who can guide you through the specific requirements for your business and help you respond to any changes in tax laws, rules or regulations.

Now might be the perfect time to grab those IRS forms, organize your invoices and receipts, and consult with an expert so you can tackle tax day like a pro.

For informational/educational purposes only: Views and strategies described in this article or provided via links may not be appropriate for everyone and are not intended as specific advice/recommendation for any business. Information has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but JPMorgan Chase & Co. or its affiliates and/or subsidiaries do not warrant its completeness or accuracy. The material is not intended to provide legal, tax, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. product or service. You should carefully consider your needs and objectives before making any decisions and consult the appropriate professional(s). Outlooks and past performance are not guarantees of future results. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates are not responsible for, and do not provide or endorse third party products, services, or other content.

Homicides in Birmingham Are Down from Record-Breaking Year. Why More ‘Boots on The Ground’ Are Needed

By
Birmingham Times
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Birmingham police investigate a Feb. 15, 2025, homicide in the 1400 block of 3300 Street in Ensley. (Carol Robinson, AL.com)

By Greg Garrison | AL.com

In 2025, AL.com’s “Beyond the Violence” project, in partnership with The Birmingham Times, examines whether Birmingham can grow beyond its crime problem and become safer, healthier and happier.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin and interim Birmingham Police Chief Michael Pickett say they have a plan to reduce violent crime in the city, which reached a record level last year.

Woodfin says 42 of 82 recent recommendations of the recent Birmingham Crime Commission report are being implemented. Pickett has his own seven-point crime reduction strategy already in effect.

The city’s crime plan has evolved since a dramatic turning point event in a turning point year. Officials are pointing to efforts to recruit officers, update state laws and corral people who turn guns against others.

But will the plan work? Is it working?

Earlier this month, the city announced Birmingham homicides are down 27 percent so far in 2025, fueled in part by a 23-day stretch with no homicides in the city.

Plans and reports may help. Or not, said a former top-ranking member of the department.

Allen Treadaway is a former BPD Assistant Chief. (File)

“Far too often, it’s just an attempt to kick the can down the road to do the things we all know need to be done,” said State Rep. Allen Treadaway, who joined the Birmingham Police Department in 1989 and retired as assistant chief in 2020. “We don’t need commission after commission to tell us that our staffing levels are critically low, that violent crime is out of control.”

Birmingham ended 2024 with 152 homicides, the highest number of killings in the city ever, breaking the record of 148 set in 1933. The lowlight of a violent year was the Sept. 21 mass shooting at the Hush Lounge in Birmingham’s Five Points South entertainment district that killed four and left 17 injured.

Two immediate efforts to tackle crime and increase public safety involve police staffing and recruitment.

In the aftermath of the Hush Lounge shooting, Woodfin brought a plan to the Birmingham City Council. The council, anxious for answers, embraced it. On Oct. 8, the council approved Woodfin’s $15.8 million plan for recruiting and retaining police officers.

Birmingham Police FOP President Deangelo Hall. (Greg Garrison, AL.com)

“Boots on the ground always works,” said Birmingham Police FOP President Deangelo Hall, who supported the plan.

“If you look at the ebb and flow of crime in the city of Birmingham, it was always at its lowest when you had the highest number of law enforcement officers on the street, boots on the ground,” Treadaway said. “When the homicides were in the fifties (53 in 2014), we had about 850 officers on the force; by some estimates you have half of that now.”

The police department is funded for more than 800 positions. It has 223 vacancies for all sworn personnel, including 172 patrol officer positions, 34 officers in administrative, operations and investigative bureaus and 17 additional vacancies of sergeants, lieutenants and captains, city spokesman Rick Journey said at the time of the approval of the police recruitment and retention plan.

Woodfin announced the formation of the Birmingham Crime Commission in October, to welcome further ideas from civic leaders to address the city’s crisis of gun-related murders. The commission completed an initial report, released Jan. 6, that calls for both immediate and long-term solutions.

Woodfin and Pickett have declined interview requests to talk about specific aspects of the crime report, but the mayor promised monthly updates on how the city is implementing the report’s recommendations. On Feb. 11, he gave his first report. Woodfin said 42 of 82 recommendations the city hopes to act on are in the planning or pre-launch stage. “That’s 53 percent,” he said.

“Let’s be clear; much work has to be done, and much work remains, but this is progress over the last 30 days,” Woodfin said on Feb. 11.

Not every recommendation of the crime commission has been acted upon. The crime commission recommended naming a “Crime Czar,” but that’s not a proposal the city has followed up on. It also recommended an Office of Safety and Gun Violence prevention. No update was available on that, either.

Some of the recommendations re-emphasized tactics the city had already announced, such as police recruitment.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, with City Councilor LaTonya Tate to his right, speaks at City Hall as his Crime Commission delivers a 66-page report. (Barnett Wright, The Birmingham Times)

The commission also recommended more collaboration with probation and parole officers and Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr.

“Those meetings have either happened or will happen within the next 30 days or less,” Woodfin said. He has not released any details on what such collaboration would entail.

Other recommendations included:

  • a plan for reserve officers;
  • an emphasis on focused deterrence in hotspots for gun violence;
  • expanding the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s hospital-linked anti-violence program;
  • street outreach teams to target at-risk individuals to disrupt the cycle of violence;
  • shooting reviews;
  • an emphasis on blight removal and code enforcement;
  • and the passage of public safety legislation such as a state ban on Glock switches.

“I think overall, it’s safe to say the cadence we have established to take steps and implement these recommendations are moving at break speed,” Woodfin said, “and we remain committed to not only the partnership with City Council and the police department but with Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway, District Attorney Carr and our federal partners in Birmingham.”

But the crime commission report is not the only guide the city is working with.

Updating law enforcement plans

Reducing homicides won’t happen without having a plan, Pickett said.

“You can have a goal, but without having a plan, you’re likely not going to accomplish that,” he said.

Pickett outlined his own seven-point crime reduction strategy, laying out the emphasis that he’s working on within the police department.

He announced in a Feb. 10 press conference that there are plans for a joint task force on stolen cars with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

“Stolen vehicles are the tools that criminals use to commit the shootings, to commit the robberies and murders,” Pickett said. “We want to interrupt all the tools that criminals use, whether it’s illegal money, whether it’s illegal guns that are being trafficked, or stolen vehicles. Whatever tools they use, we want to interrupt those tools.”

He also announced plans to increase the number of commanders working at all four precincts during peak crime hours, and said it has already been put in effect.

But city officials say they need all the help they can get, and they need support outside of local boundaries.

Birmingham City Council President Darrell O’Quinn. (Provided)

City Council President Darrell O’Quinn said some aspects of crime-fighting, such as a slow-moving criminal court system that creates a backlog of cases, are beyond the city’s control.

“Those who are committing these crimes, including people accused of murder, are walking free for years while they wait to go to trial in many cases,” O’Quinn said. “That is a direct challenge for city officials to be able to provide public safety and is something our community needs to be aware of. I’d encourage everyone to reach out to their state leaders to bring this issue to their attention. We need their help. Specifically, we need additional judges to come and adjudicate these cases.”

Woodfin said the city council has been a key partner in implementing improvements. “I want to acknowledge the support and partnership of the Birmingham City Council as we take more steps to enhance public safety and attack gun violence,” he said.

Woodfin said he would continue to work with the city council on “making sure we not only chop wood but make ourselves accountable based on the recommendations made to us.”

‘Seek out the shooters’

As recently as 2014, Birmingham had as few as 53 homicides.

Woodfin was first elected in 2017, re-elected in 2021, and is seeking a third term as mayor.

There have been more than 100 homicides in seven of the last eight years, the exception being 93 in 2019.

While the crime commission said its goal is to “make Birmingham the safest city in America,” city officials would likely be happy with at least a reversal of the trend toward extremely high homicide numbers.

To get to the goal of reduced homicides, the city needs to take violent criminals with guns off the streets.

Pickett said Birmingham’s top-crime fighting units, a special enforcement team and the crime suppression unit of the tactical division, “will seek out the shooters.”

The effort will be guided by ShotSpotter data that can pinpoint automatic weapon fire, reports on hotspots from precinct commanders and crime analysts who work closely with homicide, felony assault and robbery detectives.

“It will seek out the one percent of our community that chooses to break the law,” Pickett said. “They will arrest them, and we will report out on their arrest on a regular basis.”

The city’s crime-reduction team will increase the urgency to arrest violent offenders, he said.

“They pride themselves on making arrests quickly,” Pickett said. “They make arrests so quickly at times that individuals are still in possession of the firearm they used in the crime. So, that’s the significance of a swift apprehension.”

Birmingham Police Department’s special operations bureau will work with the U.S. attorney’s office and federal agencies such as the FBI and ATF.

“There will be more federal indictments coming down the pike,” Pickett said.

A call of “shots fired” should carry extreme urgency, he said.

“If someone discharges a weapon into a home or into a car, and they’re not successful in hitting a person, we want to go ahead and arrest that person now before they take a life,” he said. “That’s our goal in law enforcement, is prevention as well.”

Those who fire gunshots toward innocent people must be stopped quickly, he said.

“We’ll be implementing a discharge team, or discharge unit,” Pickett said. “Their goal is simple. Catch the shooters before they kill.”

Whether the killers will be deterred by these added programs and points of emphasis remains the critical question for an interim police chief and a mayor facing a possibly contentious re-election campaign where crime will likely be the dominant issue.

“Just know this,” Pickett said. “BPD is locked in.”

Asked Tuesday if he has seen any evidence that the crime plan is working, Woodfin referred the question to spokesman Journey, who said year-over-year homicides are tracking at about the same rate so far. There have been 16 homicides so far this year, compared to 19 on the same date last year on the way to the city’s record number of homicides.

Famous Gee’s Bend Quilts Tour to Visit Birmingham on March 29

By
Birmingham Times
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The Airing of the Quilts Festival designed to celebrate Gee’s Bend Quiltersis this weekend in Wilcox County. (Stacy K. Allen, Provided)

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times

The Airing of the Quilts Festival Awareness Tour, a three-city event series designed to celebrate the artistry and history of the Gee’s Bend Quilters, will visit Birmingham on Saturday, March 29.

The tour will stop at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, 520 16th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203 from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. To register for the Birmingham Tour Stop: Click here.

The Awareness Tour will also visit Montgomery and Mobile while building momentum for the Airing of the Quilts Festival in Gee’s Bend on Saturday, October 4.

The Tour offers attendees an opportunity to experience an extraordinary collection of handmade quilts, witness live quilting demonstrations, and gain a deeper connection to the rich cultural traditions of quilting in Gee’s Bend.

“The quilts of Gee’s Bend represent resilience, creativity, and a deep cultural legacy passed down through generations,” said Kim Kelly, Executive Director of the Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy. “Through this tour, we hope to honor the artistry of these remarkable quilters while inspiring more people to experience the full festival in October.”

The Airing of the Quilts Festival is a signature event celebrating the Gee’s Bend’ world-renowned quilt-making tradition. It draws visitors from around the world and across the country to experience quilt displays, artist showcases, and cultural programming.

The festival is organized by Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy, Souls Grown Deep, and Sew Gee’s Bend Heritage Builders, each 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations dedicated to preserving artistic and historical contributions of an amazing community.

Tour Schedule:

  • Montgomery, Alabama – Saturday, March 22
    • Location: Alabama Department of Archives and History, 624 Washington Ave. Montgomery, Alabama, 36130
    • Time: 2 p.m.  – 5 p.m.
    • Click here to register.
  • Birmingham, Alabama – Saturday, March 29
    • Location: Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, 520 16th St N, Birmingham, Alabama, 35203
    • Time: 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.
    • Click here to register
  • Mobile, Alabama – Saturday, April 26
    • Location: Historical Avenue Cultural Center, 564 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Ave Mobile, Alabama, 36603
    • Time: 3 p.m. – 6 p.m.
    • Click here to register

About Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy

The Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy is dedicated to preserving the cultural and economic legacy and its renowned quilting traditions. Through educational programs, exhibitions, and economic initiatives, the organization ensures that the stories and artistry of Gee’s Bend to continue to inspire future generations. To learn more about the Freedom Quilting Bee Legacy, visit www.fqblegacy.org.

Alabama Legislature Clears Paid Leave for Teachers and State Employees

By
Birmingham Times
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The Alabama Public Employee Paid Parental Leave Act of 2025 cleared its final hurdle in the Alabama Legislature Thursday to make paid leave a reality for Alabama state employees and teachers. (File)

wfalabama.org

The Alabama Public Employee Paid Parental Leave Act of 2025 sponsored by Senator Vivian Figures (D-Mobile) and Representative Ginny Shaver (R-Leesburg) cleared its final hurdle in the Alabama Legislature Thursday to make paid leave a reality for Alabama state employees and teachers. Final passage occurred in the House on a vote of 94 yeas, two nays, and two abstentions. The bill will now go to Governor Kay Ivey for her expected signature.

Women’s Foundation of Alabama applauds passage of Senate Bill (SB) 199, as a critical step to increasing and retaining labor force participation of women in Alabama. Nearly 60 percent of state employees and 80 percent of teachers are women making paid leave a smart economic and family investment.

“We applaud Governor Ivey for highlighting this critical issue in her State of the State address earlier this year and the Alabama Legislature for recognizing the importance of paid leave and moving the bill forward with haste,” said the WFA.

SB199 provides up to eight weeks of paid parental leave to full time female state employees and educators for the birth, stillbirth, and miscarriage of a child. Full-time male state employees and educators would receive two weeks of paid parental leave for the birth, stillbirth, and miscarriage of a child. Eligible employees are also entitled to eight weeks and two weeks for the adoption of a child three years or younger.

“The issue of paid leave has been a core priority for Women’s Foundation of Alabama since 2022,” said LaShundra Pinkard, interim President and CEO of Women’s Foundation of Alabama. “Our research has highlighted time and time again that access to basic benefits that support women, support families. We are proud to have advocated alongside a cadre of leading organizations from across the state who also believe in the benefits of paid leave and are honored to stand, once again, at the forefront of advancing policy that improves the lives of women and families.”

“Paid leave is a crucial workforce and economic development tool that simultaneously enables our education and state employees who are having and adopting children, the time they need to heal, bond and care for themselves and their loved ones,” said Senator Vivian Davis Figures (D-Mobile) the Senate sponsor of the bill. “It was a pleasure working with Rep. Ginny Shaver, House sponsor, Governor Ivey, and her phenomenal staff to bring it all together. It is the right thing to do. I am proud that my colleagues in the Alabama Legislature joined us in making it possible to take the financial strain off of families and giving final passage to a bill that will make paid leave the law of the land for hardworking education and state employees.”

“This significant piece of legislation is an example of how we value children and families in our state,” said Representative Ginny Shaver (R-Leesburg) a sponsor of the bill. “The Parental Leave Act will provide state and education employees with the opportunity to properly bond with their children without the added stress of worrying about their jobs. It is a valuable recruitment and retention tool to attract and keep quality employees and help us remain competitive with peer states who have already enacted these important  pro-family policies.”

Birdie Mae Davis, Synonymous with Decades-Long Alabama School Desegregation Case, Dies at 77

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Birmingham Times
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Birdie Mae Davis died Sunday at her home in Birmingham. She was 77. Davis was among one of the first Black students to integrate Murphy High School in Mobile in 1963. (Provided)

By Joseph D. Bryant | jbryant@al.com

Birdie Mae Davis’ name is synonymous with a decades-long legal fight to desegregate one of Alabama’s largest public school systems.

Davis, later known as Birdie D. Manning, died Sunday at her home in Birmingham following an extended illness. She was 77.

Davis was among one of the first Black students to integrate Murphy High School in Mobile in 1963.

She was just 17 that year when her parents filed a lawsuit to desegregate Mobile County schools. She, her sister Bettie, and Rosetta Gamble eventually became the first three Black students at Murphy High School.

The Davis case began when a group of Black parents filed a lawsuit that claimed the Mobile County school board violated the U.S. Constitution by failing to desegregate schools.

Previous attempts had also been made to integrate the school by Dorothy Bridget Davis and Henry Hobdy.

In spite of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling in 1954 that ruled school segregation was unconstitutional, a slew of local schools around the country remained largely segregated as communities either resisted the order or moved slowly to avoid full compliance.

In Mobile, there was no welcome sign for Davis as she entered the city’s oldest and most prestigious public school.

Instead, Davis and the other students faced hostile students and parents who taunted and threatened them. Davis and the other two students who integrated Murphy had to have daily security.

“At first, it was pretty hard because the students were very bad,‘’ Davis said during a hearing in 1965, where she described her experience at the school. “They, I would say, hated us at first. But then they started to get a little better and they started to recognize us.‘’

Davis graduated from Murphy in 1965 and went on to attend the University of Alabama, just two years after the state’s flagship college was integrated following a dramatic standoff similar to the one she faced in high school.

Davis was forever associated with the case because her name was listed first among plaintiffs in alphabetical order.

Yet, Davis for decades demurred at her role in civil rights history and instead chose a quiet life in Birmingham.

“My mother was very humble about her role in changing Alabama history, often deferring to the group of students who integrated Murphy with her as the ‘village’ – and that all of them changed the education for Black students in Mobile,” said her daughter, Faye Oates.

Birdie Mae Manning, with her daughter Faye in this vintage image. (Faye Oates, Provided)

In Birmingham Davis worked in senior management for South Central Bell, which later became Bell South and finally, AT&T. She retired in 2002.

“She always said it was not about her,” Oates said. “Her name became synonymous with the case but her greatest accomplishment was the life she made as a mother and grandmother.”

While the Brown ruling was a legal death knell to segregation, the Supreme Court provided no instructions for enforcing the order.

The Davis case was among a series of federal cases around the country challenging segregated schools after the Brown ruling, explained Brian Duke, a social studies department chair at Davidson High School in Mobile.

“These families would be the ones that challenged racial segregation and sought equal access for their children,” said Duke, who wrote his master’s thesis on the Davis case.

“Ms. Davis’s name became synonymous with the lawsuit in the federal district court and the struggle for equal educational rights in Mobile, AL. Over 34 years, the federal lawsuit took on a life of its own as the state’s largest district worked to dismantle segregation and achieve unitary status. Its resolution had lasting impacts across Mobile County.”

By 1970, the case made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where Mobile was ordered to further expedite integration efforts.

In 1997, the case was finally dismissed by the courts, citing that Mobile had adequately integrated its public schools — 34 years after it was filed.

Price Tag for Birmingham’s Crime Commission Fighting Measures Could Approach $30 Million

By
Birmingham Times
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Interim Birmingham Police Chief Michael Pickett, alongside Sgt. LaQuitta Wade on Feb. 10, 2025, outlines steps the Birmingham Police Department has taken to strengthen its response to gun violence in the city. (Greg Garrison/AL.com)

By William Thornton | wthornton@al.com

In 2025, AL.com’s “Beyond the Violence” project, in partnership with The Birmingham Times, examines whether Birmingham can grow beyond its crime problem and become safer, healthier and happier.

How much is Birmingham willing to spend to bring down its historic homicide rate?

Revenge, machine gun conversion devices and mass shootings drove the number of people killed in the city in 2024 to heights not seen since 1933.

The Birmingham Crime Commission report, released earlier this year, notes efforts requested by local residents and implemented in other American cities.

Trying to put a price tag on the initiative can be challenging, as some of the goals are meant to play out over decades and involve not just public but private sector efforts. However, the report was clear that “immediate transformational action” is needed, with “sustained funding and resources.”

Implementing those changes could cost millions, but not all will require new funding.

Speaking with AL.com, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said many of the report’s 82 recommendations do not require a cost beyond what’s already been budgeted for police and emergency services.

For example, the report named four main emphases — focused deterrence efforts against known offenders, violence intervention programs, shooting reviews and a focus on hotspots. Some of these goals are part of the normal duties of police and investigators. The city was already working on other recommendations, such as hiring more officers.

Woodfin said city officials have not been initially as focused on the overall costs as much as implementing the recommendations as events allow.

“We need to just continue to flesh out what they look like, is there a cost to these, and what is the total,” he said.

Looking at only some of the recommendations, based on existing city expenses and past actions, it could cost up to $28.5 million over several years to implement some manpower, infrastructure and programming needs. Not all of that money would have to come from the city, but that’s not counting renovating or building a new jail, a potential big ticket item.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the report’s recommendations, and indications of how much they might cost:

Police manpower: The commission report states that the Birmingham Police Department currently operates at about 73% strength.

BPD has a goal of expanding its workforce to anywhere from 850 to up to 1,000 sworn officers and 271 civilian staff. The report says reaching these benchmarks have been constrained by, in part, “budget limitations.”

Back in October, the City Council allocated $15.8 million to fill 172 empty patrol positions, a plan proposed by Woodfin in the aftermath of the Sept. 21 mass shooting at Hush Lounge at Five Points South that left four dead and 17 injured.

Currently, the city has budgeted for 853 total sworn officer positions, and has 216 vacancies, which includes captains, lieutenants, sergeants and 195 police officer vacancies. The city’s recruitment and retention plan prioritizes patrol officers to strengthen police coverage in Birmingham neighborhoods.

The city looks to fill more than 100 vacant positions this year.

Civilian positions, which includes a wide variety of jobs ranging from administrative clerks to parking enforcement officers to security guards, has about 40 vacant positions.

Looking at that October plan, it stated that BPD officer salaries range from $50,190 to $77,854 annually, for an average of about $64,000.

If the city were to reach for that much larger goal of 1,000 officers, it would take a total of about $9.4 million to fill out the remaining positions, based on the average salary.

Buildings: Birmingham for at least two decades has sought an alternative to its aging city jail, with various solutions floated, such as creating a regional jail and working with the county to house inmates. The jail is currently the subject of a lawsuit and, last year, a squabble between the city and county.

The report states that the now 40-year-old city jail, which holds about 200 inmates, requires substantial renovations, and all four police precincts and other facilities require updates.

“Recognizing the importance of infrastructure, the department is advocating for a new or modernized Public Safety Facility,” the report states.

There was no estimate on how much any of these projects would cost. But as state officials are finding, the cost of building a new jail can quickly rise.

But Woodfin and Interim Police Chief Michael Pickett said any upgrades in facilities would have to come after a comprehensive, third-party assessment about prioritizing personnel — how many officers are needed in what areas of the city, based on data.

“Physical plants should definitely be data-driven,” Woodfin said. “Substations, central, whatever. Any of that is going to be determined. You should first determine where should your manpower be allocated.” He indicated those decisions ultimately would be made by police.

“It’s my job to fund it,” Woodfin said.

Public safety czar: The report proposed the creation of a “City Public Safety Czar” position. That person would “drive strategy, integration and execution on behalf of the mayor for the police department.”

Woodfin indicated discussions are still ongoing about what such a position would look like within Birmingham’s city government structure, though he indicated the post would not be “over the police” but connect public safety departments, such as police and fire, and other programs, such as community reentry for offenders.

How much would the position cost? That would be up to city officials, but the job might require pay in keeping with existing police leadership rates. Looking at the 2025 budget, recommended pay for police chiefs and deputy police chiefs ranges from $130,000 to as much as $202,000.

Community Violence Intervention: Another suggested initiative was an Office of Safety and Gun Violence Prevention, modeled on other cities. That office would fund community violence intervention programs, which could include everything from counseling to juvenile curfew enforcement.

A similar office in Chattanooga, a Southern city slightly smaller than Birmingham in terms of population, received more than $967,000 in its latest budget.

IT and fleet upgrades: The commission report recommended equipping homicide detectives with updated laptops, modern case management software and “advanced analytical tools to enhance efficiency.”

It also advocated for advanced tools such as pole cameras, mobile surveillance trailers, and Flock cameras, which capture license plates, to target high-crime areas.

In addition, it recommended a leasing model to modernize the department’s vehicle fleet, to ensure every patrol officer has an assigned vehicle to drive to and from work.

According to the city, technology and fleet modernization efforts are underway. Just two years ago, Birmingham spent about $8 million on vehicle fleet upgrades for police, as well as fire trucks and Department of Transportation vehicles.

And last summer, police, partnering with Alabama Power, installed 330 cameras on power poles to monitor public areas. The cost of maintaining the system was estimated to be around $90,000 per month, or $1.08 million a year.

In addition to cameras, one recommendation involved enhanced lighting across all 99 neighborhoods for better visibility and crime deterrence. The city pledged $7.1 million in the 2025 budget toward lighting for the city, the same number as the previous year.

However, not all of those costs will have to be shouldered by the city. As the report noted, there are U.S. Justice Department grants available to upgrade IT systems and cybersecurity measures.

Last year, the DOJ awarded $4.2 million to the city for additional cameras and intelligence resources for its Real Time Crime Center. The city also applied for a $150,000 grant for ballistics tech, laptops, and iPads.

Other initiatives: Beyond these infrastructure costs, there are other recommendations that might be harder to estimate.

For example, the report said the city should “reinvest in mentorship, education and diversion programs to reduce juvenile crime.”

Chief among these was reactivating the Police Athletic Teams, which encouraged cooperation between police and Birmingham juveniles through amateur athletics. That effort is currently underway.

According to tax records, the PAT had expenses of $155,651 in 2019.

The report also recommended educational initiatives for at-risk youth, and an expansion of the RESTORE Juvenile program, which is a partnership with the city of Birmingham, Jefferson County Family Court, Jefferson County Family Resource Center and Jefferson County Juvenile Detention Center.

Birmingham City Council approved nearly $2 million in federal funding to expand the RESTORE program, and $225,000 from the city of Birmingham to continue supporting the program’s efforts. Additional funding for expanding RESTORE was completed and supported by a Department of Justice grant. However, the federal grant is reimbursement-style for $443,407.20. RESTORE does not currently have the funding to get reimbursed because the city funding, $225,000, does not match the federal allocations.

RESTORE would still need additional financial support from the city. In an interview with AL.com, Woodfin said the city plans to expand funding for RESTORE when the new budget starts on July 1.

Of course, ongoing federal downsizing efforts might make any further funding pictures murky.

Woodfin said the city is “building out” its youth programming needs, knowing it will at some point require money from the general fund budget.

And the city can rely on contributions from local businesses and non-profits for some of these actions. But the report mentioned that much of any future effort will have to come from city coffers. It recommended the city identify programs for potential funding and establish two- to three-year pilot funding, with the city continuing to pay for them if they prove successful.

“These institutions can help and be part of the solution, but they are not a substitute for ongoing public funding,“ the report stated.

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