Birmingham Crime Survivors Head to Montgomery to Demand Safety, Support, and Real Reform

February 23, 2026 - BIRMINGHAM - Before sunrise on Tuesday morning, dozens of Birmingham crime survivors and grieving family members gathered on Tuscaloosa Avenue, clutching framed photos of loved ones lost to violence as they prepared to board buses bound for the Alabama State Capitol. Their destination: the first‑ever Survivors Speak Alabama day of action - a statewide rally calling for stronger victim support, expanded compensation, and long‑overdue trauma recovery services.

The 7 a.m. send‑off offered powerful visuals and emotional interviews as families stepped onto the buses, many wearing shirts honoring children, siblings, and parents taken by gun violence. For many, the trip to Montgomery represents both a plea for help and a demand for change.

"We're not just numbers. We're families trying to heal," said Sheree Kennon, a Birmingham mother whose son was shot and killed in 2021. Kennon founded What About Us, a support group for women who have lost children and other loved ones to gun violence. "Victims deserve support, not silence."

Hundreds Expected at Capitol Rally

Once in Montgomery, survivors from 38 cities will gather on the Capitol steps for a rally, press conference, and vigil honoring those lost to violence. The event is hosted by Crime Survivors Speak, the nation's largest network of crime victims with more than 200,000 members, now launching new Alabama chapters in Birmingham, Montgomery, and Selma.

Organizers say the message is simple: Alabama's crime victims deserve a justice system that prioritizes healing, prevention, and recovery - not bureaucratic barriers.

Survivors Push Lawmakers for Three Key Reforms

During the day of action, survivors will urge legislators to advance a slate of policy priorities aimed at strengthening victim services statewide.

1. Expand Access to Victim Compensation

Advocates say Alabama's victim compensation system is among the most restrictive in the country.

Key issues include:

- Fewer than 2,000 victims applied for compensation in 2025.

- 43% of applications were denied, according to data gathered by Just Safe.

- Victims must report crimes within 72 hours and file claims within one year - one of the shortest timelines in the nation.

Survivors are backing House Bill 255 and Senate Bill 192, which would extend the filing deadline from one year to two, giving families more time to navigate trauma, funerals, and recovery.

2. Establish Alabama's First Trauma Recovery Center

Trauma Recovery Centers (TRCs) are nationally recognized for helping the hardest‑to‑reach victims of violent crime. They connect survivors with counseling, compensation assistance, and long‑term healing services.

Alabama currently has zero TRCs.

Crime Survivors Speak is calling for state investment to open the first center, saying thousands of victims could benefit immediately.

3. Fund Peer Support and Cash Assistance for Gun Violence Victims

Survivors are also urging lawmakers to:

- Create a community‑based peer support program for victims of violence

- Provide flexible cash assistance to gun violence survivors and families of homicide victims

Advocates say these supports help stabilize families, prevent further trauma, and break cycles of violence.

A New Chapter for Victims' Voices in Alabama

Crime Survivors Speak - a flagship project of Just Safe - has helped drive major policy changes and open trauma recovery centers across the country. Tuesday's rally marks the organization's first coordinated statewide action in Alabama.

For survivors like Kennon, the day is about more than policy. It's about being seen.

"We're going to Montgomery because our stories matter," she said. "We want lawmakers to hear us, to understand us, and to help us heal."