Black Lives Matter (BLM) Birmingham's Wayne Taft Harris, Jr. declared during a recent city council meeting that the group would "shut Homewood down for justice."
Harris was calling for a boycott of the city following the officer-involved shooting of Jabari Peoples. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) is investigating the deadly shooting and has refused to release body-worn camera footage of the incident, citing protection of investigation integrity.
Homewood Mayor Alex Wyatt urged ALEA to allow the family of Peoples to view the footage. Still, BLM activists continued to demand answers, even interrupting the following city council meeting.
Harris, who is the director of communications for BLM Birmingham, called on "black folk" to boycott Walmart, which he said is "filled with people of color who go there to shop with black folk, with brown folk."
Harris, an LGBTQ reverend, is known by the FBI as a fraudster. He was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of wire fraud in 2011.
According to the FBI, Harris admitted to defrauding a Florida religious non-profit of $499,000. As a minister, he misappropriated the church's loan funds over the course of two years, purchasing numerous personal items, including a Mercedes-Benz and a mink coat. He also formed a number of religiously oriented corporate entities in connection with the fraudulent activity.
During his time in prison, Harris said he was making plans for the future. He moved to a halfway facility in Birmingham, where he later founded The Tabernacle Fellowship Birmingham, where he leads karaoke from all genres "except Christian or gospel," followed by a three-minute message.
According to his website, Harris "is a licensed and ordained Baptist preacher of many decades and holds privileges with TFAM, The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries." He also owns The Taft Agency Unparalleled, where he gathers the attention of "social media influencers, networks and celebrities for his abilities to guide them into immeasurable paths of success."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning or become a member to gain access to exclusive content and 1819 News merch.
