This week our state lawmakers have been rushing a slew of bills through the legislature stripping First Amendment protections from every Alabamian under the guise of “defending values.” They were hoping Alabamians would not pay attention or show up to public hearings. We did. In droves.
Here is what you need to know. We are less than ten days into the 2024 legislative session. Five bills that have been prioritized this year — SB4, SB10, SB57, SB77, and SB129 — create barriers for Alabamians who have constitutionally protected rights to freedom of speech and assembly. Lawmakers are creating problems that do not exist.
Senate Bill 4 restricts what flags can be flown on public property. Flying the LGBTQ+ Pride flag, sorority flag, or university flag would be a misdemeanor. While posting the Confederate flag would be just fine.
Senate Bill 10 allows local governments to remove library board members if they don’t acquiesce to their personal whims and desires. This means that if one city councilor doesn’t like a book title the library offers, and if the library board refuses to remove it from circulation, SB10 would give a city council carte blanche authority to remove the library board members and replace them with a new group that will.
Senate Bill 57 restricts picketing and protesting in residential areas and can allow counties to adopt resolutions to regulate the time and noise level of any picketing or protesting in a residential area. This bill could create dangerous and unconstitutional limitations on people’s freedom to peacefully assemble.
Senate Bill 77 was filled in response to a free, voluntary lunch-and-learn briefing that the Alabama Department of Archives and History hosted last year studying the history of the LGBTQ+ community in Alabama. Some lawmakers were so outraged that this independent agency would dare to acknowledge that queer Alabamians exist in this state that they are seeking to remove the Archives’ governing board and replace it with their own appointments.
We’ve seen what happens when bills like SB 10 and SB 77 go into effect before. Governor Ivey, Attorney General Marshall, and some state lawmakers didn’t approve of the state parole board following their own guidelines for determining a person's eligibility for parole. So, they intervened. And paroles were nearly ground to a halt.
Now, lawmakers want to exercise the same authority over book titles, learning institutions, and school curriculum
Lastly, there is SB129. This bill would prohibit colleges, universities, municipalities, and any other entity that receives state funding from maintaining an office that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
All four of these bills are moving quickly and it is crucial to recognize these bills are not isolated events but indicative of a broader trend nationwide. The push for these bills is a strategic destruction of free speech, assembly, and the pursuit of knowledge. The ramifications of which extend far beyond Alabama’s borders.
Alabamians have a long and proud history of free speech and peaceful assembly. As we look upon the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, I’m reminded of the hard-fought for civil rights and the importance of the people’s role in challenging the state and promoting equity.
The bills moving through the Alabama legislature are threats to the First Amendment rights of all citizens. And make no mistake, are intentional. This moment demands that we unite.
Here are some actions you can take:
- Visit our Lege Action Hub to learn about these bills and how you can fight against these bills.
- Join us for our virtual session this Monday, February 26th on bills threatening First Amendment rights.
