On June 23, a Homewood, Alabama, police officer killed 18-year-old college student Jabari Peoples, who was sitting in a parked car with his girlfriend. Officials claim Peoples grabbed a gun, while his family and the witness say he didn’t even own one. Bodycam footage would likely clear up the discrepancy. But after more than a month, the footage was still being withheld. Community members responded loud and clear.
One protest, resulting in four arrests, blocked a Circle K as one target of many. “You stop here because you’re almost on E,” explained Peoples’ cousin, Zhia Kiez. “[N]ow you hear the message that’s being proclaimed. You ignored us any other time, we want to make sure you hear his name.”
Black Lives Matter Birmingham’s communications director, Wayne T. Harris, described the community’s commitment to a 100-day boycott of downtown businesses. “All we’ve heard from you is silence, evasion and delay,” said Harris. “This is the narrative that’s always given to Black people ... We will rally, we will host sit-ins, we will hold die-ins and vigils throughout downtown at the doorsteps of your businesses. Your commerce will feel our grief.”
Bodycam footage was finally released in August, but not made public. Peoples’ family’s attorney and Jefferson County’s district attorney also say the footage was obviously incomplete and edited.
Tangible resistance strategies aren’t unfamiliar to Alabama, whose rich movement history includes the 381-day Montgomery bus boycott. Let’s keep our eyes on Homewood, spreading this commitment to truth-seeking nationwide.