SB 247 Moves Forward: Now Is the Time to Say Something
- Drew Glover
- Apr 8
- 2 min read
On April 2, SB 247 passed out of committee with a unanimous vote. That means even the Democrats—who said they were working to soften the language—let this bill move forward without a fight. Now, it’s heading to the floor of the Alabama Senate as soon as Wednesday, April 9.
Let’s be clear: this bill is not about safety. It’s about silencing dissent.
SB 247 criminalizes the very tactics that civil rights leaders, activists, and grassroots organizers have used for generations to challenge white supremacy and fight for justice. It bans “noise amplification” near homes. It restricts protest after sunset. It expands police power. And it leaves terms like “harassment” up to the interpretation of law enforcement.
That’s dangerous—especially in a state like Alabama, where the lines between residential, public, and commercial spaces blur in every small town.
A Dangerous Precedent
Here in Florence, Project Say Something won a federal lawsuit in 2022 after city officials tried to use arbitrary noise ordinances to shut down our protests. We’ve seen firsthand how laws like SB 247 can be used to target Black-led movements, intimidate organizers, and deny people their right to be heard.
SB 247 would expand that injustice statewide.
This bill admits its intent in the fine print: to limit protest to a few “acceptable” public forums. But protest has never been about convenience. It’s about urgency. It’s about showing up where injustice lives—whether that’s a courthouse, a business, or a neighborhood.
We Need You. Right Now.
This is a critical moment. If this bill passes the Senate, it moves one step closer to becoming law—and silencing movements like ours.
Take Action Now:
Send an email to your state senator demanding they vote NO on SB 247.
💸 Support Project Say Something’s fight for protest rights with a donation.
📣 Share this blog and spread the word. We need every voice in this fight.
We’re Not Backing Down
SB 247 is an attack on the right to protest. An attack on rural Black communities. An attack on the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement that was born here in Alabama.
We are not going quietly.
Now is the time to say something.
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