Birmingham Mayor Langford to offer pardons to segregation-era protestors

[Kadie]

Birmingham Mayor Langford to offer pardons to segregation-era protestors
Posted by Joseph D. Bryant -- Birmingham News August 11, 2009 5:54 AM


Thousands of civil rights-era protesters in Birmingham who were arrested for acts of civil disobedience could be pardoned under a city proposal. A half-century after the peaceful protesters met with often violent resistance, Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford is offering pardons to those convicted in the 1950s and 1960s of breaking city laws that later were ruled unjust and unconstitutional.

State law gives a mayor power to grant pardons for misdemeanor city offenses and Langford plans to use that option to clear the names of civil rights activists.

"Some say you're just opening old wounds," Langford said Monday. "I'd say to them, some wounds have never closed. ... The city's pardon, in fact, confirms that they were not wrong in what they did."

The mayor will outline his plan during today's City Council meeting.

The city jail and other city buildings were filled with both children and adults, who were arrested for taking to the streets in protest of segregation-era laws. Birmingham protests and their violent putdown by police captured national attention and highlighted civil rights struggles throughout the South.

more...
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2009/08/birmingham_mayor_langford_to_o.html



FILE - This May 3, 1963 file photo shows a 17-year-old civil rights demonstrator being attacked by a police dog during protests in Birmingham, Ala. The mayor of Birmingham, Larry Langford, is issuing a blanket pardon for thousands of people who were arrested in the Alabama city during civil rights protests in the 1960s. Langford announced the pardon during a City Council meeting Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009.




FILE - This May 4, 1963 file photo shows policemen leading a group of black school children into jail, following their arrest for protesting against racial discrimination, near the city hall of Birmingham, Ala. The mayor of Birmingham, Larry Langford, is issuing a blanket pardon for thousands of people who were arrested in the Alabama city during civil rights protests in the 1960s. Langford announced the pardon during a City Council meeting Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009.
(AP Photo/Bill Hudson, file)

[Orsino]

1. Look for a speedy announcement that the world is round. n/t

[zbdent]

2. well, it beat out the Catholic Church in admitting stuff ...