Jesse Jackson Visits AL to Denounce Drivers License Closures
The Rev. Jesse Jackson joined forces with the Alabama Legislative Black Caucus to help fight the closings of 31 driver’s license offices across the state. The closures come as adjustments to the 11-million dollar cutback in the budget. Many of the closures are in the Black Belt. Rev. Jess Jackson says this is a political issue. “This would be a great moment for white and black citizens to rise up together demanding easy access to driver licenses, easy access to voting, and demand at age 18 automatic registration,” said Jackson. The offices closing will leave just four locations open – Montgomery, Mobile, Huntsville and Birmingham. Potential voters can still get a photo ID at local courthouses in order to vote, but Rep. Louise Alexander of District 56 says that is too much of a hassle. “When you go there, you have to your birth certificate, your social security card, something from your high school. You have to have 4 types of identification just to get that one card,” said Alexander. Congresswoman Terri Sewell has not been shy about voicing her displeasure with some of the budget cuts. In a recent editorial, Cong. Sewell called for a Justice Department investigation into the closure of the drivers license offices. The Governor responded in a letter calling her “impulsive” and “ill informed.” “It’s beneath the dignity of a Governor of a state to assault the character of a Congress person in that way. We should all know better and should behave better. I could respond in kind but I don’t want to go down there,” said Jackson. Jackson and the Black Caucus met with the Governor and Secretary of State Wednesday afternoon. Governor Bentley says he will work with them on solutions to the closings.
