Letters to the Editor
Your letter to Wanda Cooper-Jones, mother of Ahmaud Arbery, in the May 21 issue concerns me.
As an attorney, I have followed the events surrounding this case. It is quite obvious from the tenor of your piece that you are either not aware of or did not take into account the facts that have surfaced since the media story broke.
On last evening’s (May 19) network news, ABC carried video of Arbery’s arrest three years ago of a TV to which he pleaded guilty. There are other clips of his trespassing on private property on the day of the shooting as well as 911 calls of his trespassing two weeks before.
Additionally, one of the charged individuals (a retired policeman) had been asked by police to keep an eye on the subject’s property.
Any attempt to cast this story in a light of Arbery being an innocent victim is simply ridiculous.
I have enjoyed reading The Alabama Baptist for many years. While I find some articles just a little too far left for me, overall, I feel the paper is very well done, especially under your leadership.
However, that brings me to my primary inquiry. Why was this piece included? This family lives far from Alabama and are in no way affiliated with Alabama Baptists.
Consequently, this is a political piece. It has no place in TAB and should not have been included.
James W. Anderson
Talladega, Ala.
EDITOR’S NOTE — TAB verified Mr. Anderson’s information about Ahmaud Arbery’s arrest. On May 16 and May 19, ABC News reported his 2017 arrest for attempted shoplifting and subsequent sentencing to five years on probation.
ABC News also shared about newly released text messages alleging Larry English, a homebuilder, had asked local law enforcement to notify Gregory McMichael, one of the individuals charged in Arbery’s shooting death, of security camera alerts at English’s property. Other people also appeared on the video surveillance at different times and English had not reported anything stolen, according to the information.
And on May 14, ABC News reported that McMichael’s law enforcement certification was suspended and his firearm was taken away in February 2019 due to repeatedly failing to take mandatory training.
The trespassing information and 911 calls mentioned by Mr. Anderson have not been verified by TAB.
While it is possible Arbery could have been guilty of a crime, I still stand by the point and purpose of the editorial, which was to address a heart issue not a political issue. Local law enforcement should have been alerted to deal with any criminal concerns. — Jennifer Davis Rash
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Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Preach! Preach! Preach!
Thanks for your letter, your honesty and your love expressed in your letter to Ahmaud Arbery’s mother in the May 21 issue.
Like many folks, on May 8 — Ahmaud’s birthday — I walked 2.23 miles. One day, Lord, we will all act like your children.
Here’s an excerpt from my Facebook post from May 8:
Beloved, if we’re going to be Christ followers we ALL need to remember that “new command” He gave: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34–35).
As a few raindrops fell on me during my walk, I was reminded of the words from the prophet Amos. May they happen for Ahmaud’s family and for ALL of us in need of the Savior: “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (5:24)
Today I walked for Ahmaud Arbrey; but I hope I walk every day for the One who taught me long ago that He loves ALL the children of the world — Red, Yellow, Black and White — they are ALL precious in His sight.
Charlie Wilson
Aliceville, Ala.
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This letter is in response to your column on the opinion page of the May 21 issue.
I believe that you are being premature in your open letter to Wanda Cooper-Jones regarding the shooting death of her son, Ahmaud Arbery.
It’s always difficult when someone loses his life, whether young or old, but to rush to judgment without all the facts being fully examined is problematic. It’s interesting that all the pictures of Arbery in the news show him as a clean-cut, nice-looking young man. Haven’t we seen that before with other cases?
Then we see pictures of that same person as they really were before the incident occurred; not so fine-looking.
There are indications that Mr. Arbery was not the seemingly innocent jogger that he is pictured to have been.
If you haven’t searched the internet to look at all sides of this incident, I suggest that you do so. The columnist, Michelle Malkin, questioned the early reporting of this tragic incident from the start.
We can feel compassion for the young man’s mother, but to put the entire blame on someone other than Arbery at this point is wrong. Arbery has a history of being in trouble.
Please be as sympathetic towards the family of the elderly white couple who were gunned down by a black gunman while visiting the grave of their son.
Marion Scott
Hartselle, Alabama
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‘May God make us all one’
To exercise, I have been running and running a lot. I have run in my neighborhood and other neighborhoods. Recently, I ran just short of nine miles.
During the quarantine, I have made friends with other runners. I have given air high fives, smiles and confident nods to strangers, acknowledging we are all in this together.
A few weeks ago, I said hello to one of my oldest son’s baseball teammates while on a run. He is an exceptional young man, a great athlete, a student who excels academically and athletically. I have known this young man since he was seven, and I have watched him grow up into a fine human being. He is also black.
Recently I was confronted with the horrible story about Ahmaud Arbery, a young black man out for a jog when he was confronted by two white men.
After watching the video of the shooting, I was heartbroken. This could have been the young man that I greet regularly on my runs.
I firmly believe that you cannot be a believer in Christ if you are racist. If these reports about Mr. Arbery are true, then all believers should rise up and demand justice for this evil act. A mother’s son was destroyed. A father’s son was removed from God’s earth. A future was aborted.
I am solidly pro-life from conception to death. Any time life is taken unnecessarily, I am enormously grieved. Taking a life because of skin color is the highest form of evil and wickedness.
My heart is grieving for the Arbery family and their friends. While I do not know them, I will be praying for them. God remove any prejudice from me and make me a lover of all people as all people are created in your image. May God make us all ONE!
Stuart Davidson
Eastern Shore, Ala.
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“Thank you for all you do to provide us weekly updated news.”
Charles T. Carter
James H. Chapman Fellow of Pastoral Ministry, Beeson Divinity School
Bless you for your compassionate letter to Wanda Cooper-Jones, mother of Ahmaud Arbery (the young man murdered in broad daylight).
I cannot imagine the pain she, her family and friends are feeling after watching this horrific tragedy.
With your letter you have exhibited the love of Christ to another human being — just as God called us to do.
Though our words of love, support and prayers may not heal her family’s wounds, for us not to speak words of love would deny the cause of Christ. Thank you for your example.
David George
www.wmufoundation.com
Your May 21 open letter to Wanda Cooper-Jones was very moving. I think you said what a lot of us would like to say.
Thanks for this.
Linda Harrison
Fultondale, Ala.
Baptist or not, I recommend The Alabama Baptist. It has great articles, messages, and movie and book reviews. Especially great in the May 21 issue was an “Open Letter” to Ahmaud Arbery’s mother. Such a wonderful letter, full of love, compassion and encouragement.
TAB subscriber
New Brockton, Ala.
Excellent editorial in the April 30 issue of TAB — “Understanding the full picture vital to determining the solution.” Very thoughtful and compassionate encouragement to put the focus on another and not on our own perceived ability to have all the right answers.
Kathy Dean
Daphne, Ala.
Loved your Rashional Thoughts in the May 7 issue — so right on it. It’s so sad that we fail miserably in what we need to be doing (loving one another).
I look forward to reading the paper each week. It is so warm and inviting and full of human interest articles plus the necessary news.
I appreciate your talent and applaud your venture to make a few changes — all good.
Sharon Hill
Birmingham, Ala.
I am so proud of your compassionate letter to Wanda Cooper-Jones. And I’m proud you are committed to work to change the hearts of those blinded by hatred and prejudice.
Gwen Reece
Retired IMB missionary
Thank you for the changes you have brought to TAB. The fresh new look, updated content and relevant information are all positive changes.
I really appreciate your column(s) each week and now look forward to TAB more than ever.
Keep up the good work. Stay safe and stay focused.
Davis M. Woodruff
Decatur, Ala.
I really enjoyed the May 28 issue of TAB. The lead story is so timely — right here at graduation time, and with so many students and parents wondering “what is next?”
Your editorial — “Considerate approach, response both important for growth” — was particularly helpful to me. I do wish I would learn not to repeat the same mistakes (whether when writing or in living).
And thanks for the plug about books on missions.
Rosalie Hunt
Guntersville, Ala.
We are thankful for all the ways TAB media helps keep us informed. Thanks for all you do.
Tommy DeRamus
Shades Mountain Baptist Church
Birmingham, Ala.
Congratulations to you, TAB Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Davis Rash, and your entire staff for the recent awards received by TAB. I always expect these awards will continue to flow to TAB. God bless you all during these challenging days.
Jerry Wilkins
Northport, Ala.
Your bite-sized nuggets of wisdom in My Rashionale and Rashional Thoughts are not only timely but also transformative.
Sometimes the most significant and arresting comments are those which seek not to drain the dictionary but which capture relevancy in selective choices. In your unique style of communication, you adhere well to TAB’s mission: “Informing. Inspiring. Connecting.”
Morris Murray Jr.
Jasper, Ala.
Thank you, Alabama Baptist newspaper, for keeping us updated on all the issues affecting us.
Laurie Mullinax
Lincoln, Ala.
Thank you, Jennifer Davis Rash, for writing and publishing the open letter to Wanda Cooper-Jones. It speaks volume about your heart and compassion and should speak volumes to all who read it and are striving to love all others through Christ.
Charlie Button
Huntsville, Ala.
Thank you for writing the open letter to Ahmaud Arbery’s mother. It reflects the thoughts of so many of us who have watched and read about this in disbelief and a knot in our stomachs.
Violent vigilantism has no place in a nation where we claim a Judeo-Christian moral foundation.
That it happened to an unarmed black man at the hands of two armed white men makes it all the worse and disrupts genuine efforts at greater Christian unity.
Jerry B. Pierce
Flower Mound, Texas
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