A friend told me that Slavery is still legal in Decatur, Alabama. =/
2007-06-11 07:22:32 · 11 answers · asked by David 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
That is so not correct. (unless you're considering my relationship to my kids, my spouse and my animals...aka "the freeloaders"). I'm their slave, but not in Alabama:)
2007-06-11 07:26:40 · answer #1 · answered by David M 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
No truth to it: Article that may interest you proves it.
Decatur New June 1, 2007
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Riley signs slavery apology
By Phillip Rawls
Associated Press Writer
MONTGOMERY — Gov. Bob Riley signed a legislative resolution Thursday expressing “profound regret” for Alabama’s role in slavery and apologizing for slavery’s wrongs and lingering effects on the United States.
The action by the Republican governor came one week after the Democrat-controlled Legislature approved the resolution, and it makes the resolution official.
Alabama is the fourth Southern state to pass a slavery apology, following votes by the legislatures in Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina.
The governor’s signing occurred in the state Capitol, which also served as the first capitol of the Confederacy in 1861. The Capitol also was the end of the Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march that led to passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
“Slavery was evil and is a part of American history,” Riley said.
But he said he also signed the resolution because it offered an opportunity to present Alabama in a new image.
“I think that this is just another foundational point that we have that we can go back and talk about how much progress we’ve made and try to remove some of those negative stereotypes that have been out there for a while. Alabama’s a different state today and we should be proud of it,” Riley said.
When the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. led the voting rights march in 1965, Alabama’s Legislature was all white. Now it is one-fourth black.
2007-06-11 07:35:02 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's possible that there may still be a law on the books, but the law is clearly unconstitutional due to the 13th Amendment (which Alabama ratified sometime after the Civil War, if I remember my legal history--1865ish?) There are many instances of unconstitutional (and sometimes just silly) laws being on the books simply because a legislature is too busy/underfunded to clean up it's statutes.
While the law itself is unconstitutional, there's no way for ordinary citizens to get it taken off the books. To do that, someone would have to file a law suit. One of the requirements for a lawsuit, however, is that you must be harmed by the statute. This is a concept called standing. The only ones that would have standing to challenge the law, then, would be ones actually held as slaves.
As there is no one availing themselves of the law (hopefully), no can sue on it.
Ain't the law funny?
Addition: Delaware, Kentucky, New Jersey, and Mississippi all rejected the 13th Amendment. Delaware finally ratified it in 1901; Kentucky in 1976!!; New Jersey in 1866; and Mississippi in 1995 (kind of--they ratified it but never notified the US Archivist, so the ratification is still not recorded).
2007-06-11 07:37:39 · answer #3 · answered by tara k 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, slavery is illegal everywhere in the United States. It is possible that, in the town of Decatur, slavery has not been outlawed and the town's statute still technically allows it. But federal law, and in this case the Constitution, trumps all state and local laws.
2007-06-11 07:33:12 · answer #4 · answered by letzgoflyerz97 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I was born and reared in Decatur, Alabama and all it is is a dumb law that is still on the books in the city of Decatur.
Google "Dumb Laws" and you'll find a whole lot of stupid laws that are still on the books in many towns across the country.
2007-06-13 06:05:44 · answer #5 · answered by Susan 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
your friend is totally WRONG. In NOWHERE in the US is it legal to have a slave. Some people that can afford to do so may have household help, and if they happen to be black or Hispanic, or some other race, doesn't mean that they are slaves. They have to earn a wage.
2007-06-11 07:32:01 · answer #6 · answered by Ryan's mom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no the entire united states is slave free, it is a civil rights violation and unconstitutional
2007-06-11 07:28:46 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, it's partly true. Although involuntary slavery was outlawed, there is no such restriction on voluntary servitude.
2007-06-11 07:46:27 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Does your friend think you're naive or is your friend one of those conspiracy theorists?
2007-06-11 07:32:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, that is a total lie.
2007-06-11 07:30:07 · answer #10 · answered by JAQUELINE Z 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋