Birmingham City Leaders Discuss Race, Community After Dallas Shootings
The American flag that hangs outside Birmingham City Hall was already flying at half-mast to honor the 49 victims in the Orlando nightclub shooting that happened almost a month ago. City officials say the flag will probably stay that way.
Esther Ciammachilli,WBHM
The flag at City Hall was already flying at half-mast honoring the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting that happened almost a month ago.
Birmingham Mayor William Bell and Police Chief A.C. Roper met today to address three separate shootings this past week involving black men and law enforcement.
Police killed a black man in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Tuesday night and another black man was shot and killed by police near St. Paul, Minnesota, on Wednesday. This sparked a peaceful protest in Dallas Thursday night that ended in the deaths of five police officers. Dallas Police Chief David Brown says the suspect, a black man, told authorities he was upset about the police shootings and wanted to kill white people, namely white police officers.
Mayor William Bell says incidents like these involving African-Americans and the police can potentially lead to stigmatizing generalizations about both groups.
“And part of the community relationship is to get people to understand that there’s a bigger picture out there,” Bell says. “That we should not paint with a broad brush all police officers. [And] Police officers and the general public should not paint all African-Americans with that same brush.”
Bell says that, as black men, he and Chief Roper understand the challenges facing African-Americans.
Roper commented on how, he says, the Birmingham Police Department was once on the wrong side of history. Racially charged incidents like the ones this week are why the department strives to strengthen its relationship with the communities it serves, he says.
“We cannot be successful without community support. As chief, I fully understand that. Our officers understand that,” says Roper. “And so, we have to build that bridge between the community and the police department.”
The group Black Lives Matter will hold a solidarity protest tonight at Kelly Ingram Park. Roper says the police will be present at the event despite the incidents in Dallas. But police can’t be everywhere and citizens are also responsible for public safety, Roper adds. He says if someone sees suspicious behavior they should say something.
Asked to flag ‘negative’ National Park content, visitors gave their own 2 cents instead
Signs installed earlier in National Parks earlier in June asked for feedback on signs "that are negative about past or living Americans." Comments viewed by NPR didn't provide the requested feedback.
RFK Jr.’s vaccine advisers raise disproven fears about the preservative thimerosal
The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted on the flu vaccine, raising concerns about a rarely used preservative. Medical groups worry this will "sow distrust" in vaccines.
How does President Trump make his money? Real estate, hospitality and his name
President Trump's financial disclosure shows more than $630 million in income from 2024 including tens of millions from cryptocurrency and Trump-branded products touted on the campaign trail.
He owns trendy Israeli eateries. Now he’s a rep for a controversial Gaza food program
Shahar Segal — known for restaurants around the world that include Manhattan's Michelin-starred Shmoné — is a spokesperson for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
Faith Kipyegon attempts to make history by smashing the 4-minute mile for women
The three-time Olympic champion will need to shave more than 7 seconds off her personal best, a record she set in 2023. But if she succeeds, the Kenyan runner won't make the official record books yet.
Brad Pitt plays a veteran racer who won’t slow down in ‘F1’
Pitt, 61, stars as a Formula One driver whose career was sidelined by a devastating crash. Though the overall arc of F1 is fairly predictable, the film is still hugely enjoyable and dazzlingly well-made.
