City of Talladega Blog

(Talladega, AL) My heart is heavy. This past week, our city has witnessed five shootings. Two lives were lost. And with them, families shattered—parents, children, friends left to mourn what could have been.

As your Mayor—and as a young Black man who walks these same streets—I’m standing before you not just as a leader, but as a member of this community, deeply concerned by what’s happening.

We are hurting. But more than that—we’re hurting each other. And I have to ask: Why? Why are we seeing our neighbors, our brothers and sisters, as enemies instead of family?

Let me be clear: we are not each other’s enemy. The fight is not between us—it’s against the violence that steals futures, the silence that enables it, and the hopelessness that feeds it.

Every time a trigger is pulled, it’s not just one person who suffers. We’re leaving behind children without parents, mothers without sons, families without answers. And the pain ripples through us all.

Now I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again: We may not be able to stop someone from pulling a trigger. But as a city—we can and will find those responsible. We can and must stand up, speak out, and take back our streets.

The City Manager, our Council and I are committed. But we can’t do it alone. We need you. We need the voices of our elders. The passion of our youth. The strength of our parents. The vision of our community leaders. Black, white, young, old—we are stronger together.

And I want to take a moment to thank the people and organizations already doing the work—those who are showing us what’s possible when we choose community over conflict.

Thank you to Umbrella of Hope, Connect Strong, Terry’s Ministries, Mr. Brak Keith, Mr. Christian Hutchinson, Councilman Steve Dickerson, and so many other organizations and individuals. 

Your efforts, your events, and your movements are showing us that it’s okay to come together, to lift each other up, and to find joy in unity—not fear in division.

Events like the community fun days at Amanda Bingham Park, organized by people like Mr. Brak Keith and others, are proof that we can gather, celebrate, and enjoy each other—not as strangers, but as neighbors.
That’s what community looks like. That’s what hope looks like. That’s what healing looks like.

Let’s build on that. Let’s create more spaces to heal, to connect, and to celebrate the beauty of our city.

Because this is not the time to tear each other down. This is the time to stand up.
To stand together. To remind our children, our friends, and ourselves that this city is worth fighting for—but not with guns—with love, unity, and action.

So I ask you—from the bottom of my heart: Let’s choose each other over anger. Let’s choose healing over hurt. Let’s choose life.

Together, we can and will change the story of our city.

Thank you, and may peace guide us all.

                                                                                                   Mayor Ashton Hall