Montgomery’s Chaos Demands Courage - Not Excuses

Guest Opinion by Perry O. Hooper Jr.

When bullets fly on the streets of Alabama’s capital, leadership either steps up or steps aside. Governor Kay Ivey stepped up. While others issued sympathy and spin, she drew a line in the sand. “All available state assets are being discussed, and all options remain on the table,” she declared. That’s the kind of language Alabamians have been waiting to hear, not the bureaucratic mush of committees and consultations, but a clear promise that the State of Alabama will not surrender its capital city to lawlessness.

Even more disturbing, the chaos erupted at a city-backed downtown event, promoted by the City of Montgomery’s own Facebook page encouraging families to “come ride, eat, and enjoy the fun.” What began as a weekend of civic celebration, Ferris wheels and fairground lights, ended in gunfire, blood, and panic. It was a sobering reminder that even the most family-friendly events can become tragic when public safety resources are stretched thin.

That tragedy reached a horrifying peak Saturday night. Amid one of Montgomery’s busiest weekends — college football, homecoming, and the state fair, gunfire erupted downtown near Bibb and Commerce Streets. Two people, 43-year-old Shalanda Williams and 17-year, old Jeremiah Morris, were killed; twelve more were wounded, five critically, including a juvenile. Police called it a “mass shooting,” describing “two parties shooting at each other in the middle of a crowd.”

Attorney General Steve Marshall said Alabama’s leaders must confront the growing pattern of violent crime with urgency. The Attorney General, the Governor, and law enforcement agencies across the state must be aligned on one mission, restoring safety and order. Governor Ivey’s responses extending Capitol Trooper patrols and pressing the Legislature for added resources and working with ALEA under Hal Taylor’s direction shows what decisive leadership looks like.

Senator Tommy Tuberville also made clear that this is no time for hesitation. “Crime has become too common in Montgomery, and this cannot continue,” he said. Tuberville didn’t just call for accountability — he offered solutions. If local and state agencies need additional support, Alabama should be ready to surge force. His message is simple: when public safety collapses, government must act swiftly and completely.

Both Ivey and Tuberville understand something every Alabama family knows instinctively: safety isn’t a talking point; it’s the foundation of civilization. Without it, nothing else works; not schools, not business, not tourism, not pride of place.

It worked in Washington DC and it can work here. When the National Guard was deployed to restore order in our nation’s capital, peace returned almost overnight. The same principle applies to Montgomery. The Guard isn’t a symbol of failure; it’s a tool of protection. If local and state law enforcement need backup, Alabama should not hesitate. The message must be clear: every resource, every badge, and every uniform exists to defend the people, not to watch their city fall into chaos.

Every Alabamian has a stake in this fight. When the capital city falls into fear, the entire state’s reputation and spirit are at risk. The people of Montgomery, and of every Alabama community, deserve the same basic promise: that they can live, work, and gather without fear.

Governor Ivey is right to act decisively. Senator Tuberville is right to demand accountability and offer help. The message should be unmistakable: criminals will not control our streets, and law-abiding citizens will never be abandoned to the lawless.

Because in the end, this isn’t about politics. It’s about the fundamental duty of government; to protect its people and preserve peace. Montgomery belongs to the citizens who work, worship, and raise families here; and to the Alabama spirit that refuses to surrender to fear.

Perry O. Hooper Jr. is a longtime Alabama Republican figure, former Alabama Legislator and Montgomery businessman. He served as Co-Chair of “Alabama Trump Victory” in 2016, and served as an at-large delegate to the Republican National Convention. He is a noted civic leader in Montgomery with deep family roots in Alabama’s legal and political history.

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