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Community leader demands release of footage, accountability after death of Jabari Peoples
Summary
Reverend Dr. Wayne Taft Harris Jr. told the Homewood City Council on July 14 that “a young man by the name of Jabari Peoples is dead,” and demanded immediate public release of evidence, naming officers, a public apology, and reforms.
Reverend Dr. Wayne Taft Harris Jr. told the Homewood City Council on July 14 that “a young man by the name of Jabari Peoples is dead,” and delivered a list of demands for public accountability and changes to policing in the city.
Harris addressed the council at the start of the meeting during a time normally reserved for the invocation and pledge. He said he “does not come in peace. I come in protest,” and accused the city of “silence, evasion, and delay” in the case. He demanded “immediate full public release of all things concerning Jabari Peoples,” the names of the officers involved, “a formal apology from the police chief,” an independent civilian review board, anti-racism training tied to funding, and updated use-of-force policies. Harris also called for an economic boycott and other actions if those demands are not met.
The mayor and several councilors commented later in the meeting that the city does not control the evidence and urged the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), identified in the meeting as the custodian of the footage, to make it available to the family. The mayor said the city has urged ALEA to allow the family to view body-camera footage and emphasized a desire for “objective results to be made available to the family, and to the public as quickly as possible.”
No formal vote or ordinance on the demands was taken by the council at the July 14 meeting. Councilors and the mayor repeatedly expressed sympathy for the family and called for prompt, transparent handling by the agency that holds the footage. Several councilors also expressed concern about calls to direct economic pressure at small, local businesses; one councilor said targeting small businesses would be “inappropriate” and urged support for locally owned retailers while the legal and investigative processes move forward.
Harris’ remarks urged persistent public action if the city and law-enforcement authorities did not meet his group’s demands. He said organizers would “rally,” hold “sit-ins,” “die-ins and vigils,” and “economic boycotts” aimed at downtown Homewood businesses until the family’s demands are met.
The council did not adopt any ordinance or resolution in response to Harris’ statements on July 14. Councilors said they would continue to urge ALEA to release footage to the family and that city officials have limited authority on custodial evidence matters.
The matter remains pending with ALEA and with any ongoing investigatory processes; the council recorded no formal action to change city policy or to release evidence at the July 14 meeting.
