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	The Latest on Birmingham's Inclusion Resolution 3-28-07 QUOTES FROM THOSE WHO VOTED NO FROM THE BIRMINGHAM NEWS PAGE B2 ‘“I think the Birmingham Pledge speaks to the issue of inclusion,”said councilman Steven Hoyt.” ‘”Call it what it is. Say what you want to say, “ said Councilwoman Miriam Witherspoon. “What I am hearing now is it’s all about sexual orientation.” “After the meeting, Royal said he was against discrimination against any group, but objected to the resolution because it placed sexual orientation on the same level as race.” 3-28-07 Email exchange between Equality Alabama member Heather Meeks and Councilor Rodrick Royal. Original Message ----- From: Heather Meeks To: Royal, Roderick Sent: Wed Mar 28 09:44:32 2007 Subject: Your Vote Dear Councilor Royal, I am writing to express my disappointment that you did not support the Inclusion Resolution introduced by Councilor Abbott. You have taken an giant step backward for the City of Birmingham in making our city a welcoming place for all citizens. How could a BLACK man vote against this? I am very confused. When things like this happen, it makes me want to move out of Birmingham into a more inclusive and forward-thinking community. Shame on you. Regretfully, Heather Meeks From: "Royal, Roderick" <RROYAL@ci.birmingham.al.us> To: heather Subject: Re: Your Vote Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2007 11:04:46 -0500 You know, everyone does not share your view of the council's vote. Personally, I am against any discrimination. I am also against the flawed resolution offered by your Councillor. If there is any shame it should be directed at you for becoming so emotional over my disagreement with you and your lobby and your veiled attempts to intimidate. that's unamerican. To think that a white woman in the south would abandon the idea of being a lady in favor of intimidation. In a message dated 3/28/2007 11:28:09 AM Central Daylight Time, heather writes: Well, I am not white (how could you presume?) but I am an American and thankfully I can become emotional over anthing I choose. You say you disagree with discrimination, however, you shoved me in a corner several times in your email. I am not white, first of all. Secondly, as a WOMAN I get to wear pants now just like you! Thankfully I don't have to live up to your idea of a "lady." I can be strong and opinionated and your rude comment doesn't bother me. I was simply writing you to make you aware of my disappointment. Hopefully, you will get many more emails. I'm sure you'll try to belittle those members of your community as well. 3-28-07 EMAIL EXCHANGE BETWEEN COUNCILOR RODRICK ROYAL AND PASTOR J.R. FINNEY OF CONENANT COMMUNITY CHURCH. ----- Original Message ----- From: Pastor J.R. Finney II To: Royal, Roderick Sent: Wed Mar 28 09:32:06 2007 Subject: Shocked and Disappointed by your voted against Inclusion Councilor Royal, Yesterday was an opportunity for our city council to proclaim their belief in inclusion. As an African American clergy person, who has come to love this city after having changed careers and moved here 7 years ago to Pastor a church in the Woodlawn community, I watched in utter shock and disbelief as you were among the elected African American council members voting against inclusion. Sir, how it is that You along with Councilors Hoyt & Witherspoon seem to have forgotten that you operate on the shoulders of others who have gone before you such as Dr. King, Dr. Lowry, Ms. King, John Lewis and so many others who suffered so that your inclusion opportunities to be elected to the city council was even possible, but you then turned around and voted against an inclusion resolution. The question was asked why is this really about. A young man sitting beside me yelled out "Gay Rights." Well it was not about gay rights only as far as I'm concerned. There were about 12 different socio-economic, racial, religious and physical challenge things included in that resolution. Those of you voting against this resolution seem to say why does this resolution matter. It matters because too many of the citizens and visitors of Birmingham are still treated and taunted shamelessly because of just being who they are. It matters that leaders lead. City leaders had the opportunity to lead from the bully pulpit of public opinion but sided against the kind of inclusion from which you have been previously afforded. How sad! Unfortunately I simply expect Councilor Montgomery to be against inclusion. In watching him on the council I have neither heard nor seen anything from him that would make me expect anything otherwise. Sadly to say he met my expectations. As a citizen of Birmingham that wants Birmingham to excel in every way, I hope that you will re-think your vote on inclusion when the opportunity arises again. I am very disappointed by your vote I'm still wishing you the very best! God blessings in Abundance is my prayer for you. Pastor J. R. Finney II, Covenant Community Church -----Original Message----- From: Royal, Roderick [mailto:RROYAL@ci.birmingham.al.us] Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2007 10:29 AM To: pastorjr Subject: Re: Shocked and Disappointed by your voted against Inclusion How sad You seem to have abandoned your sense of godliness in favor of lies. I am against discrimination as king, young, etc. So , do not mix the issue. The real issue is you are blinded by this lobby, and I do not share your view regarding the resolution in question. incidently, who is denying your lobby the right to vote, to enter public places, or who do they have to cow tow to? This is not about civil rights, is it? -------------------------- ----- Original Message ----- From: Pastor J.R. Finney II <pastorjr@covenantbirmingham.org> To: Royal, Roderick Cc: pastorjr@covenantbirmingham.org <pastorjr@covenantbirmingham.org> Sent: Wed Mar 28 12:53:06 2007 Subject: RE: Shocked and Disappointed by your voted against Inclusion Councilor Royal, First of all, thank you for your reply. However, I find need to absolutely respond to your reply. In the very depths of my being, I know that I have NOT "abandoned my sense of godliness in favor of lies," as you have stated. In looking to my Christian faith, for guidance, I find that Jesus gave only 2 commandments and that's it. He said to love God with all of our hearts, minds, soul and might, and secondly to love your neighbor as yourself. He further said that all the other laws of all prophets rest on these two. As such, in backing this inclusion resolution, I don't have to agree my neighbor on who they are nor what they do to also want them to have the same civil liberties that everyone's enjoy. You stated, "I am against discrimination as king, young, etc. So, do not mix the issue." However, the late Mrs. Coretta Scott King said that they are the same issue. There is a plethora of her comments in the public domain declaring such to be the case, even to the point of taking her own daughter "Bernice" to task publicly on this very matter. Since Ms. King was at the very inception of the modern era civil rights movement and carried on the legacy of Dr. King on the matter of Civil Rights for nearly 40 years after his death, her views on this matter would certainly carry more weight than yours or mine. Dr. Joeseph Lowery, sees the issue as the same. When Dr. Lowery, the former longtime President of the SCLC spoke on this issue, his response was When it comes to inclusion, if I'm going to error, it will be on the side of inclusion. Again, someone with his noted record in the civil rights movement should certainly know if they are they same. I could go on because practically every major civil rights leader from that era still alive today dispute your claim that they are not the same thing. Are all of them wrong? I don't think so. As an elected official, surely you know the merits of city leaders using resolutions to speak on issues such on issues of inclusion. Furthermore, I am NOT blinded by this or any other lobby. I see very clearly. You are a public official. As such I would have thought you would be welcoming of the views of even those with whom you don't agree with, without responding with such mean spirited correspondence as you have of accusing me of abandoning my sense of godliness. Councilor you are the one that voted against an inclusion resolution that did not nothing more that say this city affirms our believe in inclusion!!!! Even if previous resolutions had been passed on this matter, what harm can there ever be for a city leader to reaffirm the call of their city to be an inclusive community? Councilor Royal, as disappointed as I was with your vote, I'm even more disappointed with the mean-spiritedness of your email reply. And still I only wish you the best. I just hope that as an elected city councilor you will come to wish and do likewise for others, even when they disagree with you. Sincerely, J. R. Finney II, Pastor, Covenant Community Church -----Original Message----- From: Royal, Roderick [mailto:RROYAL@ci.birmingham.al.us] Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2007 1:09 PM To: pastorjr Subject: Re: Shocked and Disappointed by your voted against Inclusion My opinion stands of you as well. -------------------------- Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Device 3-27-07 FOX 6 NEWS http://www.myfoxal.com/ Council can change some civil wrongs Tuesday, March 27, 2007 Some people call Birmingham the birthplace of civil rights. But the civil wrongs came first. There are statues and markers, even a museum to prove it. They show that dissenters can become heroes, and those who fight to deny rights to others become history's goats. Or "Bulls," as the case may be. (read more) City Council of Birmingham fails to pass Inclusion Resolution introduced by Councilor Valerie Abbott 3/27/07 Today the City Council of Birmingham Alabama failed to approve by a 3 to 4 vote with one abstention a resolution introduced by City Councilor Valerie Abbott. (more) City Council of Birmingham to consider Inclusion Resolution introduced by Councilor Valerie Abbott 3/24/07 On Monday March 19th the Finance and Administration Committee approved unanimously an Inclusion Resolution that was introduced by City Councilor Valerie Abbott (the resolution is attached). The Resolution has cleared the Legal Department of the City of Birmingham it will on the agenda of the Tuesday March 27th City Council Meeting. (more) THE RESOLUTION: A RESOLUTION TO RE-AFFIRM BIRMINGHAM’S COMMITMENT TO BE AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY; TO CONDEMN RACISM, BIGOTRY, HOMOPHOBIA, AND ANY FORM OF DISCRIMINATION DIRECTED TOWARD ANY CITY RESIDENT OR VISITOR; TO COMMIT TO SEEK JUST AND PROMPT RESOLUTION TO THESE INCIDENTS IF THEY SHOULD OCCUR; AND TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY OF BIRMINGHAM TO JOIN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES “WORKING TOWARD INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES” INITIATIVE. WHEREAS, the City of Birmingham is committed to inclusion as a fundamental aspect of our community and views the diversity of our city as a strength; and WHEREAS, the City of Birmingham wishes to show a strong commitment to resolving issues of racism, bigotry, homophobia, and any form of discrimination in Birmingham, valuing all residents and visitors to Birmingham and promoting acceptance and respect within our community; and WHEREAS, the National League of Cities has designed the Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities to support cities and towns in their commitment to inclusion. An inclusive community promotes equal opportunity and fairness, citizen participation and engagement; and WHEREAS, the National League of Cities has invited league members to join the Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities and to make a commitment to build more inclusive communities in their own cities and towns, and WHEREAS, Equality Alabama has requested the adoption of a resolution to reaffirm Birmingham’s commitment to human and civil rights and to condemn racism, bigotry, homophobia, and any other forms of discrimination in Birmingham. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Council of Birmingham hereby reaffirm our commitment to inclusion as a fundamental aspect of our community, pledging active efforts to seek to achieve that goal, and urging all citizens of Birmingham to join together to promote a fair, free, safe, and friendly environment encouraging good will and mutual respect for all. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that while freedoms of speech and association are strongly respected in Birmingham, acts and practices intended to foster hate and discrimination are hereby condemned as contrary to the values this community espouses regarding its diversity. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor and Council herein condemn individual and collective acts of racism, bigotry, harassment, or discrimination directed toward any resident or visitor because of age, ancestry, creed, color, gender, income, mental or physical disability, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity, and will support just and prompt resolution to such incidents. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Birmingham joins with other National League of Cities members in the Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities. 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