The country recently watched in horror as a mentally ill career criminal slit the throat of Iryna Zarutska—an innocent and defenseless Ukrainian refugee—on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina. Alabama then mourned the senseless loss of Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle, who was stabbed to death by a Montgomery man while walking her dogs in Auburn, just weeks later.
This past weekend, 17-year-old Jeremiah Morris and 43-year-old Shalanda Williams were gunned down on the street in cold blood after the Morehouse-Tuskegee Classic in Montgomery. A dozen other victims were shot but survived. There were bloodstains left on the sidewalk.
These murders are brutal and deranged but, unfortunately, not uncommon. The tragic reality for most Americans living in major cities is that public spaces—from parks to transportation to sidewalks—are off limits because the have been claimed by criminals, whose violations go unchallenged by local leaders.
What do these major cities have in common? They are run by liberal Democrats who care more about violent criminals than innocent victims. Of course, no one is surprised that big cities like Chicago and New York report rampant crime.
But what may be surprising is that blue cities of all sizes in red states such as Alabama suffer the same problem. Just look at Birmingham. Historically one of the South’s greatest cities, last year Birmingham saw its deadliest year on record. In fact, Birmingham has one of the highest murder rates in the entire country—not even Baltimore or Detroit comes close.
This is a statewide problem because crime doesn’t respect city limits. When violent offenders are released without bail in Democrat-run cities, they spread their criminal activity to every corner of our state. The policies of liberal cities threaten the physical safety of all Alabamians.
Citizens of blue cities in Alabama fear walking to their cars after dark, traveling alone, and taking their children to the public spaces—for good reason.
Those policies also hurt local businesses and hollow out the cities that should be Alabama’s economic engines. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that the nation’s recent crime wave has cost as much as $100 billion. This shocking statistic shows us that crime is more than a public safety issue—it’s an economic disease that blights cities, curbs development, and hurts our workforce.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
President Trump has given us a blueprint that shows us how to choose differently. Through decisive action in Washington, D.C., President Trump has demonstrated that strong leadership can reverse decades of liberal mismanagement and criminal decay.
The President federalized the D.C. police force and deployed the National Guard to clean up the streets and keep citizens safe. The results were incredible—and immediate!
Murders and violence plummeted. Homeless encampments disappeared overnight. Citizens feel safe again. In fact, President Trump’s strategy has been so effective that far-left Mayor Muriel Bowser admitted that the President was right and welcomed the National Guard’s presence going forward.
For too long, Democrat-controlled cities in our state have pursued radical policies that have turned once-vibrant communities into crime-ridden war zones. They have targeted police while violent crime skyrockets; they have implemented catch-and-release policies that put dangerous criminals back on our streets; and they have enacted sanctuary policies that protect criminal illegal aliens and endanger law-abiding citizens.
As evidenced by the President’s strategy, we can stop the violence and restore order by increasing the presence of law enforcement and letting police do their job.
States are sovereign, so Alabama’s blue cities have only as much power as we the People give to them. We must override dangerous local policies, restore law and order, and prioritize public safety over political correctness.
If Alabama’s blue cities won’t protect our citizens, I will. If I am elected Alabama Attorney General, I vow to work with our state legislators to curb the “home rule” powers that have allowed blue city politicians to defy state and federal law.
We cannot stand by while Democrat mayors and city councils impose policies that destroy our cities and threaten the safety of our citizens. Instead, we should follow President Trump’s example and restore law and order. Together, we can deliver a better future to all Alabamians.
Jay Mitchell is a nationally recognized litigator and former Alabama Supreme Court Justice. He is currently running to be the next Alabama Attorney General.
