Equality for all, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, and culture, has been the goal of many people and organizations throughout history in order to better one’s self, country, and world. On the other end of the spectrum, there are people and organizations dedicated to imposing fear and dominance over one another’s culture. A perfect example of the latter is on the twelfth of April, in the year 1963, in the midst of racial conflict and the taking back of African American rights, a public statement was released by eight religious leaders in the Birmingham, Alabama area. The Public Statement by Eight Alabama Clergymen expresses opposition to the fight for African American rights, and also includes many false accusations and inaccurate
…show more content…
The clergymen stated, in response to the protesters in Birmingham, that, “... facing of issues can best be accomplished by citizens of our own metropolitan area…” (Public Statement, 4). These eight religious leaders claimed that the resolution to the problems in Birmingham were to be resolved by Birmingham citizens if they were to be solved in the most effective way, disregarding the fact that the only reason that the issue was being made aware of was because of outsiders such as the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and many other nameless protesters. The Public Statement declared that no outsider had any reason to be in Birmingham to protest, as they claimed it to be a local issue. The idea that the problems in Birmingham should not concern people outside the town is outrageous. The authors of this statement did not realize that racism impacts everyone, and that a resolution to the racism and prejudice present in Birmingham could spark the beginnings of change in other towns and cities similar to Birmingham all across the country, and possibly even the world. The movement undeniably benefited from outside support and input, as well as contributions towards a peaceful resolution, an entirely different outcome than what was implied by the statement released in response to this
The clergymen stated, in response to the protesters in Birmingham, that, “... facing of issues can best be accomplished by citizens of our own metropolitan area…” (Public Statement, 4). These eight religious leaders claimed that the resolution to the problems in Birmingham were to be resolved by Birmingham citizens if they were to be solved in the most effective way, disregarding the fact that the only reason that the issue was being made aware of was because of outsiders such as the civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and many other nameless protesters. The Public Statement declared that no outsider had any reason to be in Birmingham to protest, as they claimed it to be a local issue. The idea that the problems in Birmingham should not concern people outside the town is outrageous. The authors of this statement did not realize that racism impacts everyone, and that a resolution to the racism and prejudice present in Birmingham could spark the beginnings of change in other towns and cities similar to Birmingham all across the country, and possibly even the world. The movement undeniably benefited from outside support and input, as well as contributions towards a peaceful resolution, an entirely different outcome than what was implied by the statement released in response to this