What message will Birmingham deliver to Gwangju?

Birmingham Mayor, William A. Bell to attend WHCRF2017 Opening Round Table on 14 September

Mayor William A. Bell from the city of Birmingham is expected to discuss the theme of the World Human Rights Cities Forum 2017 (WHRCF2017), “Do we live in Peace?” at the Opening Round Table that will take place at 1:00pm on the first day of the forum.

William Bell has served the City of Birmingham, Alabama, USA, as City Councilor and Council President for over 25 years. In 1985, he became the first African-American to serve as President of the Birmingham City Council, and in 2011 he was elected to a full term as Mayor of Birmingham. ¹⁾He used to say that Birmingham has a unique place in the legacy of the Civil Rights movement.

In the early 1960s, Birmingham was one of the most racially divided cities in the United States. In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led a movement against segregation. As African Americans marched and protested, they were blasted by high-pressure fire hoses, clubbed by police officers, and attacked by police dogs. In despite of the harsh police crackdown, public outrage and the letter written by Dr. Martin Luther King from a Birmingham jail helped to ensure passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

To promote a comprehensive understanding and appreciation for the significance of civil rights development in Birmingham, the National Civil Rights Historic Park was established, encompassing the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church and Kelly Ingram Park. The Sixteenth Street Baptist Church was the target of a racially motivated bombing in September 1963 that killed four girls in the midst of the American Civil Rights Movement, and Kelly Ingram Park served as a central staging ground for demonstrations.

²⁾ “The events that took place here in the 1960s impacted the world. We have a kindred connection to other cultures around the globe who continue to fight for basic human rights and alleviate human suffering,” said Mayor William Bell. In Gwangju, which has a common history of protest against injustice and violent crackdowns on citizens, the message he will deliver at the WHRCF2017 is highly anticipated.

*REFERENCE:

1) AL.com. (2017). Mayor Bell announces launch of mentoring program for Birmingham youth.
[online] Available at: http://www.al.com/news/birmingham/index.ssf/2017/02/mayor_bell_announces_launch_of.html

2) AL.com. (2014). Speaking of the Dalai Lama: Buddhist human rights leader to begin dialogue in preparation for October visit.
[online] Available at: http://www.al.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2014/03/speaking_of_the_dalai_lama_bud.html

3) Birminghamal.gov. (2017). Mayor’s Office – The Official Website for the City of Birmingham, Alabama.
[online] Available at: http://www.birminghamal.gov/about/mayors-office/

4) UNESCO. (2017). William A. Bell: Birmingham, a city against racism.
[online] Available at: http://en.unesco.org/news/william-bell-birmingham-city-against-racism