It's been nearly a week since concerned citizens met in Albertville to discuss issues surrounding the rising Haitian immigrant population, and already, they're seeing some positive results from the city leadership.
Over 200 people gathered at Mount Calvary Baptist Church last Tuesday to express their frustrations with immigration issues after a Pilgrim's Pride worker bus program caused a stir in the city. Whistleblower and immigration consultant Jay Palmer spoke at the meeting and tried to answer some people's concerns.
Some attendees were upset with city officials for failing to take action regarding historic and recent illegal immigration issues. Gerilynn Hanson, who organized the meeting, agreed that the City was initially "reluctant" to get involved, but now, she said it's starting to listen to citizens' suggestions.
"They were good suggestions, and they are going to start implementing some of those," Hanson told 1819 News. "Like more ordinance officers, someone from the Haitian community to work for the City; someone from the Hispanic community to work for the city because the language barriers and cultural barriers are so great we got to bridge that gap."
She continued, "We feel like some of these things have been a little neglected, and we just want to make sure these areas are not neglected anymore by the City. We want to work with them, not against them. And that's been our whole point... As long as we're working together, we can accomplish something. That's our whole goal. We want to work with the Haitian people. Some of the things that are happening to these immigrants, it's sad."
Hanson said the immigration issue in Albertville wasn't about race but about clashing cultures and a strain on resources.
RELATED: Albertville: How lax immigration policy drastically changed the character of an Alabama town
"This has nothing to do with race. And I know people would like to make it that way about us, but my nephew is Haitian. It has never been about race," she said. "I do not want to hurt the Haitian people. We're trying to help them as much as help the City. It's not their fault. Our government's bringing them in. You can't blame them for taking the opportunity to better themselves. They're in a war. Live in a civil war area or come to Albertville, Alabama; what would you do?"
Hanson said she's planning to hold another meeting on August 26, though things will be different this time.
"It's not going to be a discussion, not going to do question and answers," she said. "Everybody has heard about this all they need to. Now, we need to get our groups to start working to help the city."
Of the several news outlets present at the meeting, Hanson said the majority latched onto one or two off-color remarks rather than present the full picture and purpose of the meeting. Those news outlets won't be welcomed back to the next meeting, Hanson said.
"People are trying to make this about race, and that's only a deflection," Palmer told 1819 News. "One person in the meeting made a derogatory comment about race, and it was addressed after the meeting. Racial hate will NOT be tolerated. This is about community awareness, egregious living conditions and human labor and child trafficking as defined in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (Forcerld Labor Section). Make no mistake, it's not about race, and I have reached out to the Haitian Community."
Hanson added, "The city is starting to listen. We want to give them a chance to implement some things before we jump on the bandwagon that they're not going to do their job because they really are trying... We're not divided. People just needed to voice their opinions, and we gave them a spot. They got all that out. Now we're going to get to work."
To connect with the story's author or comment, email daniel.taylor@1819news.com or find him on X and Facebook.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
