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This is a column of opinion
The Reverend spoke of the storms.
Rev. Jesse Jackson – and, God knows, he saw a few – got on stage at the Boutwell Auditorium on a wet and rainy Saturday morning and spoke about the storm endured by Nat King Cole, the singer the deceased who was beaten by the Ku Klux Klan he played in this space even in 1956.
He recalled the familiar storms of Birmingham's turbulent past and the more recent violent storms perpetrated against African-Americans throughout the world. country, often – but not always – by the police.
The storm that brought the aging civil rights leader to Birmingham has been hovering over us for 10 days since Thanksgiving night. Jackson praised Emantic "EJ" Bradford, Jr., a 21-year-old African-American, who was killed by a police bullet that night in the midst of a conflict that caused a shooting in the Riverchase Galleria de Hoover.
"Storms," he says, "come suddenly."
This one has certainly disappeared, and it is unlikely that he will soon disappear either.
Not even maybe when we finally see that it's happened that night when we all got the chance to watch the video now in the clutches of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency , who oversees the investigation of the shooting.
Jackson, speaking – exceptionally – of a prepared text, demanded a "thorough and thorough" investigation.
"We want to see the tapes now," he said.
The night Nat King Cole was beaten on a stage in Birmingham
Jackson is only the last voice to demand the release of the video. E.J. Bradford's family wants to see him. Activists and their tireless and hoarse supporters want to see him. I want to see him. You want to see him.
Is there anyone in Jefferson County who does not want to see the content of this video?
Here is the problem: are we all ready to see what it contains? Are we ready – no matter what we believe we have transpired at this deadly meeting – to accept what we see, or are we just going to open our eyes to what our heart wants to see?
We are going through this storm and even it is likely that the storm will almost follow the publication of the video, which will leave someone angry and disappointed, if not worse.
But we will not pass the storm without the difficult dialogues that must unfold. [19659003] The dialogue that must take place between Hoover's leaders and residents about the persistent marginalization of the city, particularly in education.
The dialogue to be held with Hoover should include community influencers and Birmingham residents who are ready to engage in civil talks to bridge the gap between the city and his brothers over the mountain since decades. Conversations about police treatment, jobs, public transit – about anything that can be a common bond and a common advantage.
The dialogue must also take place within our own African-American communities, with our own children and young adults – difficult discussions about the value of life. That's worth more than, for example, a pair of sneakers, a relationship that went awry or any other beef probably fueled by depravity that permeates their social media and infiltrates their veins.
Back to the funeral of the Alabama Mall EJ Bradford
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"A Decision Can Make a Difference," Pastor Mike McClure of Rock City Church told me a few days before overseeing the funeral . "We need to better understand the consequences of decisions.
"At the same time, he added, the police must make better decisions. They are trained for a crisis. Police, firefighters and paramedics are trained to see blood and chaos. Yet, almost every time people of color are involved, training continues.
This was a move, a home that was primarily aimed at a family that had to bury a son. There was heartfelt sorrow, even joy, and laughter at the speed of Bradford's youth shared by some of his longtime friends.
"You can not stop the faith," said the Reverend. And fate can not stop faith. "
Shortly after, this was perhaps the most moving moment of the afternoon. The ceremony was almost over when McClure asked a youngster who wanted to "give up his life to Christ" to come in front of the auditorium and stand in front of the closed coffin.
on the balcony, and what seemed to be just a moment, dozens of young people surrounded the coffin, tightening so tightly that the velvet ropes that surrounded it were to be removed and some of the flowers spilled.
coffin; some got their hands on another youngster. And they stayed there, some singing, some crying, some maybe, thinking about future decisions and the consequences of those decisions.
"Get rid of all the bad guys in your life," McClure told them. "And make positive decisions.
" If we're not careful, we'll be back here.
In the middle of another fatal storm.
Rev. Jesse Jackson calls for transparency of the Hoover police
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