City of Birmingham Issues Curfew, State of Emergency Following Riots
The City of Birmingham has declared a State of Emergency and has issued a curfew following violent protests within the city last night.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin announced the curfew during a press conference Monday morning. Travel will be limited during this curfew, and those required to work during the hours of the curfew are required to provide official documentation of their employment.
Woodfin was on the ground with protestors Sunday, first in solidarity with peaceful demonstrators, then later to plead with crowds of people to not destroy Birmingham or become violent.
“I 100 percent support civil disobedience but that is very different from civil unrest,” Woodfin said Monday morning. “I support activism and your right to peacefully assemble, but I don’t support mobs and people destroying things just because. And so moving forward, the city of Birmingham as of today is declaring a state of emergency due to civil unrest and will be implementing a city-wide curfew starting today at 7 p.m.”
Those violating the curfew will be subject to arrest as well as anyone who is found to be promoting violence. Citizens are asked to contact Birmingham Crimestoppers at 205-254-7777 to share photographs or information in regards to those seen looting and damaging property last night.
Mayor Woodfin responded to the protest and pleaded for peace, sharing the video below to Twitter last night.
Birmingham, this is not the road to reform. Do not destroy the community you worked to build. pic.twitter.com/yDgW9JBdqF
— Randall Woodfin (@randallwoodfin) June 1, 2020
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