Carlos Chaverst Jr. takes threats too far in texts to Bham Mayor Randall Woodfin
After a week of stoking fires and calling for looting and ignoring curfews, Birmingham organizer Carlos Chaverst Jr. may have finally crossed the thin line between First Amendment rights and unlawful threats. In a conversation with Mayor Randall Woodfin Chaverist used threatening language saying, “You wanna play games, BITCH we taking over city hall,” which finally landed him under the threat of law enforcement action, according to Chaverst Jr. himself. It began last week following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis by the hands of a police officer who has since been charged with manslaughter. As the days went on, Chaverst’s anger intensified, and he began to encourage his followers to protest and riot in nearby Birmingham municipalities, all the while staying out of Birmingham. When the threats were directed outside of Birmingham-proper, Woodfin didn’t seem to mind them, but on Sunday night Chaverst began to shift his focus back to the Magic City as he directed his followers to head to Linn Park to help tear down the Confederate Monument. It wasn’t long before it got word that Woodfin showed up and he began to suggest that they “take over City Hall.” “If Randall Woodfin wanted that statue down he would’ve BEEN took it down! Move him out the way!!” Chaverst posted to his Facebook followers. That’s when things began to take a turn for the worse. All day Monday, Chaverst took to his multiple Facebook pages to applaud the efforts of those in Birmingham. He began to text Woodfin that morning, and by 1:16 p.m. he texted the mayor, “You wanna play games, BITCH we taking over city hall.” And apparently that was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Woodfin clearly didn’t take that message very well as Chaverst came back to his Facebook page this evening posting, “ “Randall Woodfin claimed i threatened him. As a result he has directed the Birmingham Municipal Court to revoke and recall my warrants that were frivolously thrown on me. They are looking to hold me without a bond because I’m “dangerous to myself and other people.” My personal record will show otherwise. I’ve never been charged nor have committed a violent crime. He is using his political office for personal gain. The last text message isn’t a threat. It’s a political statement. By “taking over city hall,” implies i will win as mayor and the PEOPLE decide we take over city hall. It’s a shame i have to explain this. The same thing Woodfin is doing is exactly what Trump does.” Beyond Woodfin, Chaverst’s actions have garnered the attention of other Alabamians who are none too pleased That he essentially incited a riot and called for the removal of the monument in Linn Park. On Monday afternoon, a Change.org petition was started calling on Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall to formally charge Chaverst for “inciting a domestic terrorist hate crime by telling people to attack the homes of white residents in Hoover, AL and burn them down.” At the time of publishing, after less than 7 hours of being live, the petition had 3,450 signatures out of a goal of 5,000.
Activists focusing on Alabama officials after mall shooting
Demonstrations that have targeted an Alabama city where police shot and killed a black man on Thanksgiving will be redirected toward state officials now investigating the shooting, organizers said Wednesday. Leaders speaking at a news conference said demonstrations targeting the Birmingham suburb of Hoover would now focus on state officials who are investigating the shooting death of Emantic “EJ” Bradford Jr. They promised protests at the homes and offices of Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and the head of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. A spokesman for Marshall, Alabama’s top law enforcement official, declined comment. The change follows a meeting in which protest spokesman Iva Williams said officials in the city of Hoover agreed to consider several requests made by demonstrators, including the addition of a citizens review board and a diversity officer. Protest leader Carlos Chaverst Jr. said demonstrations were being halted temporarily in the city “in expectation the city of Hoover will do the things they told us they would do” City officials did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. An officer fatally shot Bradford after hearing gunfire at Hoover’s Riverchase Galleria mall. Bradford had a gun and the officer shot after seeing it, but Bradford wasn’t responsible for a shooting that wounded two people, authorities said. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
