By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — With a potential federal government shutdown looming, clergy and community leaders gathered Monday on the steps of the Alabama State Capitol to protest proposed funding cuts to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
The rally, organized by the Alabama Poor People’s Campaign Moral Mondays, brought together about 80 participantswho marched from Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church to the Capitol, singing, “Somebody’s killin’ our people, and it’s gone on far too long. And we won’t be silent anymore.”
Rev. Carolyn Foster of Greater Birmingham Ministries led the event, joined by clergy from across the South. Lenice Emanuel, director of the Alabama Institute for Social Justice, said the proposed cuts would devastate rural hospitals that depend on Medicaid.
“When Medicaid gets cut, hospitals literally close,” Emanuel said. “When hospitals close, people go untreated and families must travel for miles in emergencies.”
More than 750,000 Alabamians receive SNAP benefits. Beginning in 2028, Alabama would be required to cover 10% of those costs, amounting to about $208.7 million, according to the Alabama Department of Human Resources.
“This is not just bad policy — it is immoral,” Emanuel said. “Food, healthcare, and dignity should be considered basic human rights.”
Faith leaders including Rev. Leanne Pearce Reed of Vestavia Hills and Rev. Gary Brower of Montgomery urged lawmakers to protect vulnerable residents.
Organizer Valtoria Jackson said the group planned to deliver a letter outlining the impact of the OBBBA to the offices of Sens. Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville, adding, “We’re not coming in anger — we’re coming in hope.”