State Rep. Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham) expressed concern the Carlee Russell disappearance might get in the way of passing her “Ebony Alert” bill.
Last week, Carlee Russell admitted there was no kidnapping that led to her 49-hour disappearance.
“My client has given me permission to make the following statement on her behalf. There was no kidnapping on Thursday, July 13th 2023,” the letter from her attorney said. “My client did not see a baby on the side of the road. My client did not leave the Hoover area when she was identified as a missing person. My client did not have any help in this incident. This was single act done by herself.”
Givan’s bill would create an Ebony Alert system that will issue alerts for missing for Black youth who fall under a specific set of guidelines.
The lawmaker told WBRC News 6 the bill is needed more now than ever and hopes the Carlee Russell situation doesn’t hurt its chances of passing.
“I think it’s very important, I’m just hoping that because of what happened, that it doesn’t taint the process,” Givan said. “We’re dealing with across the aisle negotiations every time we go into that building. I think it probably would have been easier to get the bill out before this happened, but who knows?
“I fight for a lot of different causes, and I’m still going to fight for this one.”
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
