Activists Make Hoover Their Focal Point For Protests
The police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked daily protests in Birmingham and surrounding cities.
Now, three months later, the protests have died down except in Hoover.
Protesters continue to hold almost weekly protests in Hoover, where police killed a black man at the Riverchase Galleria Mall in 2018. The officers involved were never publicly identified.
The group said that while the other cities have agreed to review department police policies, Hoover has been silent.
Karan Vance with Alabama Rally Against Injustice said talks are at a standstill.
“We want them to listen to us,” she said. “And until they listen and actually start to change things, we’re going to keep protesting.”
Earlier this month, about a dozen demonstrators with Cell A65, staged a “die-in,” in which they laid on the ground to imitate dead bodies, at the Riverchase Galleria. But they were met by Hoover police.
Vance said officers used unnecessary force while detaining protesters.
Allan Rice, Hoover’s City Administrator, said there’s a false narrative created around the department, especially the way police have dealt with protests.
“We’ve seen a recurring narrative where protesters antagonize the police and say and do things that they may have a constitutionally protected right to do,” he said. “But that certainly set the stage and the police have shown tremendous restraint.”
Rice said city officials aren’t ignoring the protesters’ demands. Mayor Frank Brocato met with them once. But Rice admits Brocato’s re-election campaigning got in the way of further conversations. He said now that Brocato has been elected for another term, city leaders can focus on meeting with groups willing to have productive conversations.
Editor’s note: The original story identified Alabama Rally Against Injustice as the group holding frequent protests in Hoover. Various groups, including Cell A65, are among those protesting regularly in the city.
Justice Department opens investigation into Minnesota governor and Minneapolis mayor
Federal prosecutors are investigating Gov. Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey.
No sign of new protests in Iran as a hard-line cleric calls for executions
A Iran returns to an uneasy calm after protests led to a violent crackdown, a senior cleric is calling for the death penalty for detained demonstrators. His sermon Friday also threatened U.S. President Trump.
Gulf South food banks look back on a challenging year as another shutdown looms
Federal funding cuts and a 43-day government shutdown made 2025 a chaotic year for Gulf South food banks. For many, the challenges provide a road map for 2026.
Measles is spreading fast in S.C. Here’s what it says about vaccine exemptions
More than 550 people have contracted measles in Spartanburg County, S.C., in a fast-growing outbreak. Like a majority of U.S. counties, nonmedical exemptions to school vaccination are also rising.
It took 75 governors to elect a woman. Spanberger will soon be at Virginia’s helm
Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer and three-term congresswoman, is breaking long-held traditions on inauguration day. She says she wants her swearing-in to showcase the state's modern vibrancy.
For those with addiction, going into and coming out of prison can be a minefield.
Many jails and prisons around the country don't provide medication treatment for opioid use disorder. Studies show that medication makes recovery more likely and reduces the risk of overdose death.
