By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
BIRMINGHAM, AL — State Rep. Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham) has sharply rejected claims that her 2023 body-camera law is responsible for the delayed release of footage in the fatal June 23 shooting of 18-year-old Jabari Peoples by a Homewood police officer.
Appearing on CNN’s First of All this past Saturday, Givan dismissed accusations by family attorney Leroy Maxwell as “absolute foolery.” Maxwell had alleged that Givan’s bill—which allows families or their legal reps to request body-camera access—was being cited by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) as the legal basis for withholding footage.
Givan clarified her intent, noting the bill was co-sponsored by more than 20 lawmakers, including several members of the Democratic Black Caucus, and designed to offer “an opportunity … to get a foot in the door” for families seeking transparency. She added that preliminary conversations with ALEA had even indicated the agency was “opening the doors to at least an initial review of the body-cam footage.”
She emphasized that the law was crafted in a legislature with no appetite for blanket public release—understandable given a 2021 Alabama Supreme Court ruling that classified body-camera videos as investigative material not subject to public-records demands.
The bill instead created a formal petition route for families and their legal representatives.
Attorney Maxwell, however, continues to accuse Givan of “smoke and mirrors” and sole responsibility for the delay.
Givan defended her record, saying:
“I stand by the legislation … we’re in a super-majority red state, and it is very difficult to get legislation passed. And hopefully, that body cam will be released.”
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has yet to set a date for release. Meanwhile, the Peoples family awaits court review of their request. Givan’s comments come as calls for transparency in officer-involved shootings dominate statewide debates.
