This Week Injustice- March 10, 2024
The stay sane edition
Raise your hand if you’ve recently been asked, “Why do you live in Alabama?”
It’s very easy to feel discouraged these days—national politics is hostile and wearying, and Alabama lawmakers (and courts!) seem more intent on embarrassing the state than tackling the very real and present problems facing people who reside here.
Focusing on the things I appreciate about Alabama helps—nature and biodiversity, culture & food, and being around creative people. Yes, there is still suffering, but there is also a lot of life, beauty and good energy.
I highly recommend getting outside to appreciate the bounty of Spring. Every day a new plant or flower is opening its tender buds, reminding us that life continues outside politics, policy and whatever else is making news.
On a quick trip to Decatur, I stopped at the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. How have I never been there? It’s an incredible institution, something we can all be proud of, preserving a wide expanse of marshlands for migratory birds and endangered species.
Even though the day was blustery and cool, I spent some time walking two of the magical trails, visited the cool observation building and the well executed visitor’s center.
If you are in the area, give them some love and get a free serotonin boost from all the natural beauty!
Take a deep breath, and here’s a look at stories at the intersection of justice and injustice in Alabama this week.
LEGISLATIVE SESSION/POLICY
Instead of addressing the ongoing problems of overcrowding and rampant drug trafficking in Alabama prisons, the legislature invented their own “prison funding obligation” crisis related to mass incarceration’s expansion through a new mega-prison in Escambia county. You wont see these men get excited about record overdoses or corrupt ADOC staff, but yank away the promise of more prison construction and they’ll filibuster.
A bill that would criminalize flying certain flags on public property was back on the agenda in Montgomery. SB4, proposed by State Sen. Gerald Allen, would make it a Class C misdemeanor to display a flag no the approved list.
Two bills would expand public access to police body cam and dash cam videos. HB 41, sponsored by Juandalyn Givan (D) would limit the “ongoing investigation” exclusion to six weeks.
How Black mental health workers in Birmingham are working to improve access to care.
ADOC/MASS INCARCERATION/PAROLE
The attorney for an elderly man beaten by two ADOC officers at Limestone Correctional asks why ADOC allowed the two officers to still work in the prison, even after an internal investigation identified the officers as participants in the assault.
Gov. Ivey awards $150K grant for career technical education prorgrams for people in state prisons.
Alabama’s parole board can’t decide whether to grant parole to former Limestone County sheriff, so they scheduled a future hearing. (insert eye roll)
ADOC receives a $149K grant to fund efforts to combat cell phones in prisons. It will help fund ADOC’s new “Digital Forensic Unit program” to use technology to try to identify criminal activity in the prisons.
A new study looks at dangerous heat levels inside U.S. prisons. Almost half of all American detention facilities suffered a spike in hazardous heat days, threatening lives of incarcerated people across the country.
POLICE
A former Elmore County deputy faces up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to excessive force that was caught on camera. 33 y/o Blake Hicks punched and kicked a 26 y/o man in the head while he was handcuffed on the ground, breaking his cheekbone and causing a concussion. It started as a traffic stop and escalated when the man asked why he was being pulled over.
Attorneys for a Black woman arrested by Andalusia police says video shows police assaulting his client after she accused them of racism.
A Montgomery police officer, fired in 2020 for putting a man in a choke hold as officers handcuffed him is trying to get his job back. Note: Montgomery Advertiser puts their content behind a paywall and I couldn’t find any other media reporting former officer Antavione Ferguson.
Woman jailed after protesting outside Decatur mayor’s house in response to police shooting of Steven Perkins pleads guilty to disorderly conduct. “If we stand up for a Black person, we’re going to be a target,” says relative.
FEATURES/POSITIVES
Montgomery’s Mayor signs order eliminating fines and fees more than 10 years old. Advocates say this will ease financial burdens on low-income families and move away from a purely punitive focus with justice. It covers most traffic tickets, misdeamanor possession of marijuana and Class C misdeamnors.
The only tenured professor with 7 felony convictions in America is from Birmingham. Meet Randall Horton- professor, poet and change maker.
Love this , love nature especially. Your articles are always so inspiring and informative, thank you Beth!
A good way to start mu day! Thank you!