“Alabama Unity Rally” Peaceful but Fiercely Anti-Trump

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2016/11/WhiteLadySign_9787.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1920;s:6:"height";i:1440;s:4:"file";s:30:"2016/11/WhiteLadySign_9787.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:13:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"WhiteLadySign_9787-336x252.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:252;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"WhiteLadySign_9787-771x578.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:578;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"WhiteLadySign_9787-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"WhiteLadySign_9787-768x576.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:576;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"WhiteLadySign_9787-1536x1152.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:1152;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"WhiteLadySign_9787-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"WhiteLadySign_9787-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"WhiteLadySign_9787-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"WhiteLadySign_9787-415x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:415;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"WhiteLadySign_9787-353x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:353;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"WhiteLadySign_9787-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"WhiteLadySign_9787-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"WhiteLadySign_9787-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:1212856;s:14:"optimized_size";i:296058;s:7:"percent";d:75.590000000000003;}s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:58:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/11/WhiteLadySign_9787.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:1006400;s:14:"optimized_size";i:158868;s:7:"percent";d:84.209999999999994;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:66:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/11/WhiteLadySign_9787-140x140.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:5844;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4155;s:7:"percent";d:28.899999999999999;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:66:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/11/WhiteLadySign_9787-336x252.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:18326;s:14:"optimized_size";i:13095;s:7:"percent";d:28.539999999999999;}s:5:"large";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:66:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/11/WhiteLadySign_9787-771x578.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:71785;s:14:"optimized_size";i:43931;s:7:"percent";d:38.799999999999997;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:66:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/11/WhiteLadySign_9787-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:39868;s:14:"optimized_size";i:25414;s:7:"percent";d:36.25;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:66:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/11/WhiteLadySign_9787-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:19603;s:14:"optimized_size";i:14041;s:7:"percent";d:28.370000000000001;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:66:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/11/WhiteLadySign_9787-415x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:25831;s:14:"optimized_size";i:18454;s:7:"percent";d:28.559999999999999;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:66:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/11/WhiteLadySign_9787-353x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:20253;s:14:"optimized_size";i:14508;s:7:"percent";d:28.370000000000001;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:66:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/11/WhiteLadySign_9787-125x125.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:4946;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3592;s:7:"percent";d:27.379999999999999;}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Dan Carsen
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] =>  WBHM
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

)
1637561392 
1479000135

Recent anti-Donald Trump rallies around the nation have been marred by violence. Some feared that would happen in Birmingham, especially after social media threats. But Saturday night, though hundreds protested, no one got hurt. That’s not to say emotions weren’t high.

In the same park where police turned dogs and fire hoses on protesters in the 1960s, a diverse crowd of several hundred gathered to shout their support for unity in opposition to a Donald Trump presidency. They chanted, sang, and then marched through downtown Birmingham, with police cruisers stopping traffic. Chants included “Muslim lives matter,” “Latino lives matter,” and “Not my president!” Common themes among marchers and speakers were supporting people who’ve faced discrimination, especially recently, and reforming or abolishing the Electoral College, which gave Trump the election victory despite Hillary Clinton winning the popular vote.

The event was organized partly through social media, where some commenters wrote that today’s marchers should be attacked with fire hoses and dogs. But the worst opposition turned out to be a couple hecklers. One shouted “You are ridiculous!” as the processions passed a bar chanting “We reject the president-elect.”

The three-hour rally ended peacefully, with thanks and loud cheers for the Birmingham Police Department.

BlueLight_9815

 

Crowd_9785

 

Movement_9790

 

March1_9801

 

RogueTavern_9822

 

Flags_9825

 

Before things even started, Birmingham Police had ringed the park.

Dan Carsen, WBHM
Before things even started, Birmingham Police had ringed the park.

 

Trump names former Florida AG Pam Bondi as his new pick for U.S. attorney general

After former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration, President-elect Donald Trump named Pam Bondi, a former attorney general of Florida, as his next pick for U.S. attorney general.

Police report gives details, timeline of the sexual assault claim against Pete Hegseth

The woman who accused then-Fox News host of sexual assault in 2017 said that she "remembered saying 'no' a lot," according to a police report. Hegseth is President-elect Donald Trump's choice for Secretary of Defense.

Alabama Black Belt’s sewer crisis a tougher fix for residents in manufactured homes

Poor sanitation has long plagued residents in Alabama’s Black Belt. For people with manufactured houses, finding a solution has been more challenging.

In Birmingham, Black men’s groups work to save young men from the cycle of gun violence

As the city inches closer to its homicide record, community members are trying to address a sense of fatalism and lack of opportunity felt by some young men.

What is the ICC and can it really arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu?

The ICC also issued warrants for Yoav Gallant, former Israeli defense minister, and Hamas leader Muhammad Deif. But it doesn't have an enforcement mechanism and relies on states to make the arrests.

Former Brazilian president indicted over alleged coup plot

Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro and several others have been charged with attempting to overthrow incoming government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2022.

More Front Page Coverage