SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
In an effort to quell ongoing protests following the police shooting of Steve Perkins, Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling has offered to step down from office a year early if demonstrators cease protests outside his home and halt public criticism. Perkins, an African American man, was shot and killed by a Decatur police officer on September 29, 2023, leading to widespread local and national protests against the mayor and the police department.
In meetings held this week with Perkins’ widow, Catrela Perkins, and local activist groups, Bowling proposed stepping down in January as a concession to the protestors. The protests, organized by the “Justice for Steve Perkins Movement” and other grassroots groups, have centered around demands for accountability, including the removal of Police Chief Todd Pinion, whom they accuse of poor leadership and officer misconduct.
In a recent audio recording submitted to The Decatur Daily, Aneesah Saafiyah, cofounder of Standing in Power, expressed frustration over the delayed negotiations. “It’s almost a year later, and you all want to sit down and negotiate,” she said. “And you’re asking us to find a way to silence people when all we’ve ever had is protesting and public comment. Not one time have we been violent. You all have tried to antagonize us and instigate it.”
Saafiyah questioned why Bowling proposed January as a potential resignation date. Bowling explained, “That would give everyone some time to show that they’re going to hold true to their commitment. This is a give-give opportunity here. I’m giving up something, and I’m asking y’all to give up something. It’s a request, not a demand. It’s a win-win.”
Bowling mentioned that he had also discussed the proposal with Reynolds Funeral Home director Dexter Elliott and Dr. Claudette Owens, Pastor of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, but no other members of the Perkins family were consulted.
Nick Perkins, Steve Perkins’ brother, criticized the lack of transparency. “There are too many secret meetings in Decatur surrounding this issue,” he said. “That’s the one thing citizens have been complaining about. There’s no transparency. Why aren’t you being transparent now? Why are you continuing on that path? Let’s go ahead and say, ‘Hey, I handled this wrong; I apologize, and for this — what I will do to rectify the situation — is remove myself and let somebody else come in and handle the job I’m supposed to do. And that should involve the Perkins family. All of them.”
Despite Bowling’s offer, tensions between the mayor’s office and the protestors remain high. Activists have expressed skepticism about the mayor’s intentions, accusing him of silencing public dissent rather than addressing the underlying issues. They also demand Pinion’s removal as a critical step toward healing the community.
The situation escalated further this week when Bowling announced that the city would begin enforcing protest permit requirements, a move that protestors have criticized. In a statement issued on Thursday, Bowling said that while he understands the protests are part of the healing process, the disruptions in residential neighborhoods could no longer be tolerated.
“I want to assure those concerned that I have heard your voices,” Bowling said. “However, the right to protest should not and may not infringe on the rights of others, and the rule of law must be restored to allow peace for all of our citizens.”
Protestors have vowed to continue their demonstrations until their demands are met, setting the stage for ongoing friction between the city and the activist community. Bowling and the protestors are scheduled to hold their next round of discussions on Friday, with no clear resolution in sight.