Hoover police, after exercising restraint in response to a series of protests against the Galleria shooting, have begun to set boundaries. The department says demonstrations on school property will not be tolerated. The department issued a statement, after protesters suggested that the city's schools would be targeted.
“Rest assured that Hoover police are monitoring the protests, and while we respect any citizen’s right of free expression, we will not allow any protest activity on any Hoover City Schools’ property,” the statement said.
"If we don’t get no justice they don’t get no peace," protest organizer Carlos Chaverst said in a Facebook post last week. "They never know when we are showing up nor where we are showing up! Keep them on their toes! Y’all ready to hit the schools?!"
Demonstrations have roiled the city since the fatal police shooting of Emantic "EJ" Bradford Jr. at the mall on Thanksgiving night. Police responding to a shooting say they found Bradford at the scene with a gun, but later determined he did not fire the initial shots that injured two people. Erron Brown, 20, is charged with shooting 18-year old Brian Wilson. Police have not yet charged anyone with firing the shot that injured a 12-year old girl.
Protesters on Tuesday night demonstrated inside Walmart and at the Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant on Highway 150. The demonstrators then disrupted traffic on the Interstate 459 northbound ramp to I-65 North. The protesters backed down, after police, accompanied by tow trucks, ordered the demonstrators to disperse, or face arrest. Police say they will take measures to "ensure the free flow of traffic."