Birmingham Mayor Leads Bible Rally Against Murders

Homicides have been rising in Birmingham, Ala., and Mayor Larry Langford thought a public Bible event – one that 1,000 people attended – might get the point across that killing is wrong.

The Associated Press reported that Langford organized a “sackcloth and ashes” rally at a Birmingham auditorium last week as a reference to the Book of Jonah, in which residents of the ancient city Nineveh wore burlap sacks and donned ashes to remind them to stay away from sin. According to the Birmingham News, pastors from all over the city delivered fiery sermons encouraging people to shun violence and turn to Jesus. So far in 2008, 27 people have been slain in the city, up from 19 at this time last year. Police Chief A.C. Roper, who is also a pastor, supports the rallies but said that more needs to be done.

Langford, sworn into office in 2007, has hosted three religious rallies and handed out Bibles at one of them.

The events have sparked controversy among some Birmingham residents, who have complained to Olivia Turner, director of Alabama’s branch of the American Civil Liberties Union.

“The worry I have is that there's a government endorsement of religion,” lawyer Bill Messer, a state ACLU board member, said to the AP. “Certainly, the mayor has a right like anyone else to express his personal religious beliefs. As mayor, acting on behalf of the city, religion should not become part of the government itself. If it's an official government event, that's troubling.”

“Let there be so misunderstanding: Satan is at work in this town,” Langford said to the crowd. “And it is time to pray...This city needs to humble itself.”