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The Alabama Big 10 Mayors on Monday urged Alabama voters to show up to the polls and vote for Amendment 1 – Aniah’s Law – on the November 8th ballot.
“Under current Alabama law, judges have limited authority to deny bail to violent offenders unless the suspect is charged with a capital offense or poses a flight risk. That means that dangerous criminals are often released back onto the streets, even when it is likely they will commit more violent crimes as soon as they make bail. If the majority of Alabamians vote for Aniah’s Law – Amendment 1 – on November 8, judges will be able to deny bail to dangerous offenders who are likely to reoffend when they are charged with serious felonies like murder, kidnapping, rape, sexual torture, domestic violence, human trafficking, burglary, arson, robbery, terrorism, or aggravated child abuse,” the release states.
This law, sponsored by Rep. Chip Brown (R-Mobile), was passed unanimously by the state legislature in April 2021 and was named in memory of 19-year-old Southern Union Community College student Aniah Blanchard, who was kidnapped and murdered in 2019. Her accused murderer was out on bail awaiting trial for charges of kidnapping, attempted murder, and robbery.
“As members of the Alabama Big 10 Mayors, public safety is one of our top priorities. And on the November 8 ballot, there will be a constitutional amendment that, if voted for by a majority of Alabamians, would give our state’s judges the tools they need to keep violent, repeat offenders off our streets and out of our communities, and in jail where they belong,” the Alabama Big 10 Mayors said. “In October 2019, 19-year-old college student Aniah Blanchard was tragically kidnapped. The suspect in her case was out free on bond awaiting trial for charges of attempted murder and armed robbery. He should have been incarcerated, and Aniah Blanchard should still be alive.”
The Alabama Big 10 Mayors continued, “We urge all Alabama voters to vote for Amendment One on election day so what happened to Aniah and her loved ones will not happen again.”
The Alabama Big 10 Mayors:
The mayors of Alabama’s ten biggest cities have joined together to address the state’s most important issues and to make Alabama a safer, better place for all of its residents. With three out of every four Alabamians living in their metro areas, the Alabama Big 10 Mayors “play a key role in moving the state forward and keeping Alabama a great place to live, work, and raise a family.”
Representing the largest cities in Alabama, the Alabama Big 10 Mayors include Auburn Mayor Ron Anders, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling, Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba, Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Madison Mayor Paul Finley, Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed and Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox.
