BIRMINGHAM — A coalition of clergy, community activists and families affected by police violence is calling on Birmingham leaders to take urgent action following two fatal officer-involved shootings one month apart. The open letter centers on the deaths of Vanessa Ragland and Jamal D’Angelo Williams, both of whom were experiencing mental health crises when they were killed.
“As families grieve the losses of Vanessa Ragland and Jamal D’Angelo Williams, it has become clear that this administration must reckon with the reality of individuals being killed, harmed and hurt by police,” said the Rev. Eric Hall, co-founder of Black Lives Matter Birmingham.
The letter argues that the deaths reveal deep flaws in how the city handles residents in crisis, stating: “A city cannot claim safety while its residents cannot trust that calling for help will keep them alive.”…