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.
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.
In Miami, deportations are raising concerns among Cuban-Americans
South Florida's Cuban-American community supports President Trump, but some members are uneasy with his immigration policies. "I'm not for deporting people without criminal records."
Performers and video game companies reach deal that ends nearly year-long strike
Performers who do stunt and voice work for video games went on strike in July after reaching a stalemate in negotiations over how companies can use A.I. in game development.
Trump’s EPA plans to repeal climate pollution limits on fossil fuel power plants
The Trump administration plans to get rid of all limits on climate-warming pollution from the nation's fossil fuel power plants. Fossil fuel interests hailed the proposal, which likely faces legal challenges from environmental groups.
Trump’s DOJ makes its most sweeping demand for election data yet
Voting officials say they've never seen a demand like the one the Justice Department sent to Colorado last month.
Rep. McIver is indicted on federal charges related to tussle at immigration facility
The indictment was announced by interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba. Rep. McIver says the proceedings against her are "a brazen attempt at political intimidation."
Senators grill Trump’s FAA nominee over past effort to alter pilot certification rule
Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford was tapped in March to helm the agency. It's critical time for U.S. air travel, following a deadly January collision and ongoing air traffic control system problems.