Former Birmingham Police Chief speaker at 12th Annual St. Clair County MLK Unity Breakfast
Published 4:17 pm Wednesday, January 23, 2019
- Former Birmingham Police Chief Annetta Nunn speaks at the 12th Annual MLK Unity Breakfast in Pell City. Photo by Danny Moore
Annetta Watts Nunn made history as the first African American woman to hold the title of police chief in Birmingham, an experience that gave her insight into life’s struggles and accomplishments.
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At the 12th Annual St. Clair County Martin Luther King Jr. Unity breakfast, held at Celebrations in Pell City, Nunn spoke from her 28 years of experience in law enforcement, her faith and the work and views of Martin Luther King Jr.
She joined the Birmingham Police Department in 1980 and served 28 years. In 2003, she became the 33rd police chief of Birmingham, making her the first African American woman to hold that title. She retired in 2008.
She quoted King in her speech, saying, “We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”
Like many others, she wondered aloud what it would be like if King was still alive today.
“What would he say about the behavior of our leaders today and the citizens of the United States? Do our actions demonstrate the actions of brothers or fools?” Nunn asked.
She said King exemplified the Bible, particularly Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing from factional motives through contentiousness, strife, selfishness or for unworthy ends… let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself, thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourself,” quoted Nunn, who is a Sunday school teacher of the 23rd Street Baptist Church in Ensley.
She noted the 800,000 federal workers who are “on the brink of financial collapse.” She also mentioned mental illness issues during her address.
Lastly, she spoke about Alabama infrastructure.
“If we could use our tax dollars to invest in improving our country infrastructure, it will help create jobs, increase investments in our communities and possibly save the life of someone waiting on first responders that must take a longer detour to avoid a structurally deficit bridge,” Watts said.
Pell City Mayor Bill Pruitt stressed the value of unity.
“Today is not about you or me, today is about the we. We’re getting back to what’s important.” he said. He went on to say that we are all Americans and God’s children.
Proceeds from the St. Clair County MLK Unity Breakfast support scholarships for local youth.
