Oct. 8—A photo of civil rights activist Garrick Rawls sitting behind Mayor Tab Bowling during Sunday service at First Baptist Church drew strong and mixed reactions from Decatur residents Monday.
“This morning, a well-known civil rights activist from Huntsville with an extensive arrest history, Garrick Rawls (pictured below), arrived and sat directly behind Sherry and me,” Bowling wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday. “Mr. Rawls wore a badge that clearly showed his presence and support for the Perkins incident.
“I extended my hand to welcome him, as I always strive to greet others in a spirit of hospitality. However, he chose not to return the gesture, making me feel uncomfortable for the first time in my life felt during what should have been an event.” time of peace.”
Rawls, of Huntsville, has been arrested several times for nonviolent demonstrations in Alabama and elsewhere. Last October, he spent 15 days in jail after being charged twice with disorderly conduct while protesting the Sept. 29, 2023 shooting of Steve Perkins by Decatur police.
In the photo, which the mayor apparently took incognito, Rawls — brown skin and dreadlocks in stark contrast to the other attendees — looks toward the pulpit with his arms folded and a Bible on his lap. Bowling’s left ear is just visible in the foreground.
In Bowling’s post, he referred to the Sunday service on September 29, a week before Rawls’ apparent solo performance. At that service, “six or seven” Perkins followers were present at First Baptist, located at 123 Church St. NE, according to Bowling. He also referenced comments made by “one of their leaders” during a City Council work session on September 30.
Mike Stovall, a member of the grassroots activist group Standing in Power, addressed the City Council at its Sept. 30 meeting. Bowling was not present, as he continued to leave meetings during public comments for months.
“We can’t talk to you here, Mr. Mayor?” Stovall said to the room. “That means we’re going to go to 123 Church St. and sit there every Sunday until we can see your face and talk to you… You’re going to have to see us. We’ll have to give ourselves some answers… You’re going to the movies. We come wherever you go. And that is why we were with you yesterday in the house of the Lord. “
Stovall and others have called for the resignation of Bowling and Decatur Police Chief Todd Pinion. Many supporters of the Perkins movement say city leaders have done little to heal the city and have taken no steps to ensure another death like Perkins’s does not occur again.
After a protest at his home in August scared his grandchildren, Bowling met twice with Stovall, Perkins’ widow, and other black leaders and offered to resign as early as November in exchange for an end to protests there. When negotiations failed, Bowling wrote on Facebook that those he met “look like terrorists.”
Both Bowling and Rawls declined to comment on Monday’s church service. Pastors at First Baptist did not respond to requests for comment Monday.
Perkins supporter Sarah French was one of six who attended First Baptist on September 29. She said the idea of attending had been discussed for some time, and the anniversary of Perkins’ death spurred it into action. The group made sure to include only those who would have respect for the church, French said.
“We literally went with the goal of visiting his church and that was it,” she said. “We didn’t say a negative word to anyone. We walked in, everyone was very welcoming to us.”
French said the group spent about 10 minutes in the church parking lot gathering themselves and entering as one. Inside, she said Bowling himself welcomed her and told her to enjoy the service. A Decatur police officer was already at the church when the group entered, according to French, and he monitored the Perkins group throughout the service. French said the group was not located near Bowling.
The service ended without incident when Bowling was “waved away” during the final song, French said. She said no one from her group planned to approach or speak to the mayor after the service. As they left, she said the police officer was standing on the porch watching them.
“I think it was completely inappropriate for Tab to take a picture of someone in church,” she said of the Rawls post. “The church is welcome to all people.”
Bowling’s Facebook post concluded with asking for prayers and encouraging readers to work toward a future where people can come together.
“I understand that we are dealing with heightened emotions, and it has never been my intention to create division, but rather to promote understanding and mutual respect,” he wrote. “Worship is a sacred time, and everyone deserves to feel safe as they gather for this purpose.”
The post and screenshots of the post quickly circulated online and by Monday hundreds of people had weighed in.
“As a pastor, I strongly disagree with using our church services for anything less than a season to worship God and grow in grace and knowledge. Shame on anyone who deceives the Lord’s people out of their worship experience,” wrote one user.
“It is very disheartening to see the escalation of protests invading private spaces and personal worship,” another user wrote. “Everyone deserves to feel safe at home, in public and especially during worship services. The recent actions against Tab Bowling have crossed a line and brought the protests to his place of worship and personal spaces, creating an unsettling environment for him and his family. We cannot tolerate this type of harassment, which disrupts not only the person targeted but also the sanctity of community spaces.”
Some commentators compared Rawls’ presence to harassment, intimidation and stalking. Others focused their criticism on Bowling, rather than Rawls.
“What rule or law did he break?” one user asked. “It’s amazing how you police officers are not held accountable. Now you feel threatened by someone who is serving God peacefully. Just retire after January 4.”
“Why did you wait to post this?” asked another user. “I feel this post is more divisive and should be removed. This is actually my very first public response to the Perkins incident. You’re asking for sympathy while someone is visiting a public place, when there’s no real determination to do so. police officers illegally trespassing on private property and taking the life of an innocent man. If you feel threatened in any way, perhaps you should call your police officers and see them in action. Throughout America’s history, Southern *whites* in particular have been consistently despised *black*. churches. This man went to church. He doesn’t have to shake hands, nor do you have to shake him or have a conversation.
Bowling responded to the above comment by saying that Rawls’ intent was to “intimidate, stalk and harass” him and his wife.
– david.gambino@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2438.
