IN GOD WE TRUST
Participants march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to commemorate Bloody Sunday 1965
FREEDOM OF SPEECH
PHOTO of Four Freedoms Monument in Madison, Fl RANDY WILLIAMS
LIFTING THE VEIL OF IGNORANCE
Photo/Randy Williams
Confederate reenactor during a commemoration of the Battle of Selma of 1865
A SNAPSHOT OF SELMA, ALABAMA (UPDATED REGULARLY) 3/15/20
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Background
CDC is responding to an outbreak of respiratory disease caused by a novel (new) coronavirus that was first detected in China and which has now been detected in more than 100 locations internationally, including in the United States. The virus has been named “SARS-
On January 30, 2020, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concernexternal icon” (PHEIC). On January 31, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex M. Azar II declared a public health emergency (PHE) for the United States to aid the nation’s healthcare community in responding to COVID-
Source and Spread of the Virus
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in people and many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats. Rarely, animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people such as with MERS-
BREAKING NEWS
REPRESENTING
BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE PRINCE CHESTNUT
KING FROM ATLANTA
TO THE MOUNTAINTOP
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ABOVE
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ABOVE
The Rosa Parks Statue
SELMA MONUMENT UNVEILED
State Represensative Prince Chestnut (L) and Cheyenne Webb Christburg (center right) participated in the unveiling of the Selma Monument at the Alabama Bicentenial dedication on Saturday December 14, 2019 in Montgomery, AL. Click here for photo gallery
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (L) and Montgomery Mayor Stephen Reed ( R ) unveil the Rosa Parks statue on Sunday December 1, 2019 in downtown Montgomery, AL.
REPRESENTING
“Week 4 of 2020-
Week #4 of 2020 began early Monday as I received a call from a colleague to help with her bill concerning protective hairstyles. She is the same representative that introduced the bill about vasectomies. Her vasectomy bill to curtail the reproductive rights of men, which has no reasonable chance of successful passage, is being lauded for its originality and responsive nature even as far as Europe. Later, there was a prelude to a policy meeting where we discussed strategies and bills on the agenda for the upcoming week.
The next day, we held a policy meeting before session. The natural hair and protective hairstyle bill was placed as the first bill on the calendar for consideration. In New York, California, Tennessee, Florida and Kentucky, there are bills either passed or being considered for passage to prevent discrimination against persons wearing natural hair and hairstyles that protect the natural integrity of a person’s hair. These are known as CROWN bills. There was at least one representative from Jefferson County who opposed the bill and believed it would be bad for businesses. It was decided that the bill would be carried over and brought back at a later date. I spoke with a Republican lawyer legislator and let him know I would work on the bill and could prepare an amendment or substitute bill in its place.
A friend who is the mayor of Gordonville opened the session with a prayer. There were quite a bit of bills on tap, including an anti-
The next day, there were multiple places for me to be in the morning. My presence was required in several committees. I met with the Secretary of State on a bill that is aimed to help probate judges from economically disadvantaged rural counties. After the Q and A session before the committee, I will have to work on an amendment to the original bill to ensure that it is clearly stated as being for the benefit of rural counties.
I left that committee meeting for two subsequent meetings and was stopped in the hall by lobbyists asking me about legislation I recently passed and requesting some new legislation. It was beyond hectic, as I was literally being pulled from many different directions the entire day. The next day, Baptist ministers visited the State House. I went to greet and speak to them.
A joint session of both houses was also held in observance of black history. A representative from Mobile spoke in the chambers and called a few legislators by name as being great examples of leadership in Alabama. I was one of the persons she called by name. She stated to the effect that she did not have the worries and concerns she once had for the Black Belt because of my presence in the State House; and, she cited my lineage, knowledge and heart to help improve the conditions of the people in the Black Belt. At that time, I was not in the chamber and did not hear this. I later saw the lieutenant governor and he asked me did I hear the words spoken of me—I replied I had not—and he told me they were good.
A bail bill called “Aniah’s Law” was passed to address what is perceived as a problem where defendants seem to get out of jail on bail after committing dangerous felonies. I challenged the bill in committee to guard against it being an unconstitutional piece of legislation and later worked across party lines to get the right language in the bill so that it will be able to survive a challenge and not deprive people of their presumption of innocence. The bill passed with 104 votes.
Together we will improve the conditions, standards and expectations of the people of Alabama in 2020.
Prince Chestnut
State Representative
District 67
Governor Kay Ivey and Dr. Scott Harris Host a teleconference update on the Coronsvirus Tuesday March 24. Click speaker to listen in its entirety.
CLICK SPEAKER FOR LATEST ON CORONAVIRUS
DALLAS COUNTY HAS 2 CASES CONFIRMED WITH THE ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AS OF MARCH 25, 2020. AUTAUGA 7, BUTLER 1, MONTGOMERY 31, WILCOX 3, TUSCALOOSA 29.
ALABAMA HAS FIRST CORONA VIRUS DEATH
From Governor Kay Ivey:
"It is with profound sadness that I confirm that one of our citizens has passed away from the COVID-
"I appreciate the diligence of the Alabama Department of Public Health for throughly investigating this case, which unfortunately was indeed a Coronavirus-
CALL 1-
SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES EXTENDED UNTIL APRIL 30, 2020
CURFEWS
MONTGOMERY 10PM UNTIL 5AM
SELMA 9PM UNTIL 5AM
AS OF APRIL 1, 2020 THE DALLAS COUNTY COURT HOUSE WILL BE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. TAX COLLECTOR’S OFFICE WILL REMAIN OPEN UNTIL APRIL 6TH AT 4:30PM
24 HOUR TESTING HELP LOCAL PHONE LINE
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