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Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin issued a public apology on Friday, nearly a week after a tragic mass shooting in Five Points South left four dead and 17 others wounded. In a Facebook video post, the mayor acknowledged that he “messed up” by taking a public jab at state Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, amidst a back-and-forth exchange following the deadly event as first reported by The Birmingham Times.
“I took my eye off the ball, and it was a mistake,” Woodfin admitted, referring to a social media post in which he singled out Givan among other Jefferson County lawmakers. His remark, which added “not you” in red text over her photo while thanking other lawmakers for their partnership, was met with widespread criticism. The mayor’s comment sparked backlash from African American leaders, who argued that the focus should remain squarely on public safety during such a devastating time for the city.
The shooting, which took place last weekend in Birmingham’s busy entertainment district, has left the community reeling. Authorities have said multiple suspects were involved in the violence, which killed four people and left 17 injured. Woodfin, in his three-minute apology video, acknowledged that the city is in “immense pain” and admitted that in the heat of the moment, he lost sight of the bigger picture.
“In a human moment, I took my eyes off the 99 percent of our local, state, and federal partners and Birmingham residents who have been nothing but supportive, and put too much focus on the 1 percent who are not. It was a mistake, and I own it,” Woodfin said.
The mayor vowed to shift his focus back to “the real work” of addressing the city’s violence problem, pledging to support local police and violence prevention programs. He also promised that new measures would be rolled out in the coming days to confront the culture of violence in Birmingham. “Birmingham’s legacy is rooted in one word—‘resilience,’” he said. “We have looked terror in the face without flinching… we will overcome this, but we must do it together.”
Woodfin emphasized that his primary goal is now to be a support system for the city and its residents as they cope with the aftermath of the tragedy. He mentioned his involvement in high-level discussions about gun violence, including a recent meeting with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House.
State Rep. Givan, who has advocated for a stronger response to Birmingham’s violent crime problem, suggested earlier in the week that deploying the Alabama National Guard might be necessary to support the city’s under-staffed police force. While Givan has yet to respond directly to Woodfin’s apology, her proposal has added to the ongoing debate about how best to address the rising violence.
For now, Mayor Woodfin is focusing on restoring order and trust in Birmingham. “We will overcome this,” he reiterated, “but only if we come together.”
