Alabama
‘They may draw racist maps, but we are the south’: thousands rally in Alabama for Black voting rights
Thousands of people from across the country descended on Montgomery, the capital of Alabama, on Saturday. They arrived by bus, by car and by plane to gather for the All Roads Lead to the South rally, following the supreme court’s Louisiana v Callais decision last month, which essentially gutted the Voting Rights Act and severely limited protections against voting discrimination.
Organized by a coalition of national and local civic engagement groups, the rally took place outside the Alabama state capitol building, in the same plaza where the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches – three nonviolent demonstrations in support of Black voting rights – are enshrined.
“We’re here, Montgomery, not at a stopping point, but at a starting point,” Steven L Reed, mayor of Montgomery and the first Black person to hold the position, told the crowd. “We’re here in this city because of the spirit, because of the courage and because of the commitment of our forefathers and foremothers who got us to this point.”
Following the supreme court decision, Republican-led states rushed to redraw their voting maps in ways that weaken Black political power. Tennessee and Florida have already passed new maps, while Alabama, Louisiana and Georgia seem poised to follow. Mississippi temporarily paused redistricting efforts, with the state’s governor promising to revisit the issue soon.
Voting activists from these states affected by Republican redistricting attempts – along with local and national elected officials, including the senators Cory Booker and Raphael Warnock and the representatives Terri Sewell, Shomari Figures and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – took the stage to mobilize and energise attendees.
“We need to fight with all we got,” said Charlane Oliver, a Tennessee state senator who protested the state’s redistricting by standing on her desk last week. “They may draw some racist maps, but we are the south, this is our south. The south belongs to us. The south got something to say, and we gon’ speak real loud and clear in November.”
Throughout the event, spontaneous chants of “vote, vote, vote” emerged from the audience. At times, All Roads to the South felt like a worship event, harkening back to the Black church’s vital role in the civil rights movement. It began with a prayer; when an attendee had a medical event, an emcee asked those gathered to “put their praying hands together”. Multiple gospel songs were performed throughout the day.
For many attendees, being at the rally was personal. Their family members fought for voting rights. Now, they said, it’s up to them to take up the banner.
“My grandmama, my momma, my mother-in-law – our ancestors did not cross that bridge, walk during the bus boycott, my cousins got locked in the First Baptist Church [in Montgomery], across from the police station in the 60s, my other cousin got beat up by a horse up on Jackson Street – we didn’t do all that for this,” said Carole Burton, a Montgomery resident.
The day began in Selma, with a prayer service at the historic Tabernacle Baptist church, followed by a silent walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the site of the brutal “Bloody Sunday” violence against civil rights marchers in 1965. From there, those who attended the actions in Selma traveled by bus to Montgomery, where they were joined by thousands.
All Roads Lead to the South was not an isolated event – more than 50 satellite events were scheduled across the country for people who couldn’t make it to Alabama. Speakers also noted that the fight would continue elsewhere.
“Our task is bigger than defending the past,” Rukia Lumumba, director of the Mississippi VRA Rapid Response Coalition and M4BL Action Fund, said. “Our task is to build a democracy worthy of the people who bled to create it in the first place.”
Alabama
Alabama under first heat advisory of the season as officials urge residents to take precautions
SELMA, Ala. (WSFA) – Alabama is under its first heat advisory of the season as dangerously high temperatures and humidity combine to push heat index values into the triple digits.
The National Weather Service issued the advisory as conditions increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, especially for older adults, young children, people with chronic medical conditions, and anyone who works or spends extended time outdoors.
Selma Fire Chief Walter Dailey says it doesn’t take long to feel the effects of the extreme heat.
“It’s hot,” Dailey said after spending just a few minutes outside. “I’m sweating. I can feel it running down my back.”
For firefighters, the dangers are even greater. Dailey says crews often respond to emergencies while wearing nearly 150 pounds of protective gear, causing them to lose significant amounts of fluids in a short period of time.
“In the first 30 minutes, we’re able to sweat out about four or five gallons of actual fluids from our bodies,” he said. “So hydration is extremely important for us.”
Even though the temperatures are soaring, emergency calls don’t stop. Dailey says firefighters continue responding to structure fires, grass fires and other emergencies while adjusting their daily routines when possible to limit unnecessary time outdoors during the hottest parts of the day.
He warns that heat exhaustion and heat stroke can develop much faster than many people realize.
“Heat exhaustion is serious business,” Dailey said. “It happens in a matter of minutes.”
Tips to stay safe during extreme heat
Dailey encourages residents to:
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day instead of waiting until you feel thirsty.
- Replace fluids and electrolytes if you are working or exercising outdoors.
- Wear lightweight, loose-fitting and light-colored clothing.
- Take frequent breaks in the shade or in an air-conditioned building.
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day, generally between late morning and early evening when possible.
- Check on older neighbors, relatives and anyone who may be especially vulnerable to the heat.
- Never leave children or pets unattended inside a parked vehicle, even for a short amount of time. Temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly within minutes.
What if your home doesn’t have air conditioning?
For people living in homes without air conditioning, officials recommend spending as much time as possible in cooler public places such as libraries, community centers, shopping malls or other designated cooling locations during the hottest hours of the day.
Closing blinds or curtains to block direct sunlight, using fans to improve airflow, limiting the use of ovens and other heat-producing appliances, and drinking water frequently can also help reduce the risk of heat-related illness.
If someone begins experiencing heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea, confusion, weakness or stops sweating despite the heat, move them to a cooler location immediately, provide water if they are alert, and seek medical attention if symptoms worsen or do not improve.
As temperatures remain dangerously high, Dailey says one of the biggest mistakes people make is waiting until they feel thirsty.
“At the point you’re already sweating, if you’re not drinking, you’re already behind on being hydrated,” he said.
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Copyright 2026 WSFA. All rights reserved.
Personal fireworks use in central AL. Watch video
Thinking of lighting some personal fireworks in Montgomery, Prattville, Wetumpka, Millbrook or Pike Road? What you should know, and safety tips.
No rocket’s red glare? No bombs bursting in air? Welcome to the Fourth of July in Alabama.
While the rest of the country lights up the night, strict fireworks laws in some Alabama spots mean residents will have to celebrate without the snap, crackle and boom.
Here’s what to know about fireworks laws and regulations in the state.
Shop Walmart this 4th of July
Are fireworks permitted in Alabama?
Fireworks are banned in Alabama’s cities and towns — aside from professional fireworks displays put on by cities — but are legal in most rural areas. Even if fireworks are allowed, local rules on noise and timing still apply.
What fireworks are permitted, and illegal, in Alabama?
In Alabama, Class C Common Fireworks are generally permitted for use. This includes the following:
- Bottle rockets
- Roman candles
- Sparklers
- Smoke bombs
- Firecrackers
- Wheels
- Spinners
Illegal fireworks include ground salute fireworks containing more than two grains of explosives and those purchased through mail order. Also unlawful are M-80s, cherry bombs and silver salutes.
Who can buy fireworks in Alabama?
In Alabama, you must be at least 16 years of age to buy fireworks unless you’re with an adult. Sales are off-limits to anyone who is intoxicated or deemed irresponsible. Buyers must show a valid driver’s license or state-approved ID.
Are there regulations to selling fireworks in Alabama?
In Alabama, fireworks can’t be sold in tents, trailers or car trunks. Vendors must use a permanent or modular building at least eight feet wide and set on a foundation. All fireworks on display must have protected fuses, and sellers need a state permit to operate.
Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter in Alabama for USA TODAY’s Deep South Connect Team. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@usatodayco.com.
ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC) – A search is underway for a missing boater in St. Clair County.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) said 64-year-old William R. North, of Bessemer, was serving as a spotter for the Pell City Sail Club with an ongoing race. Officials said North attempted to transition from a sailboat to an unoccupied “jon boat” and fell into the water and did not resurface.
ALEA said a search for North is ongoing, near the Pell City Sail Club on the southern portion of the lake, with the following agencies:
- ALEA Aviation Unit
- ALEA Marine Patrol
- Pell City Police Department
- Pell City Fire Department
- St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office
- Lincoln Special Operations Unit
- New London Fire Department
- Childersburg Rescue Squad
- Munford Rescue Squad
WBRC confirmed Sunday evening that North is the assistant district attorney for Jefferson County’s Bessemer Cutoff.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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Copyright 2026 WBRC. All rights reserved.
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