Alabama Governor Signs Resolution Apologizing For Slavery

Gov. Bob Riley signed a resolution Thursday expressing “profound regret” for Alabama’s role in slavery and apologizing for slavery’s wrongs and lingering effects.

{snip}

The Alabama resolution describes “centuries of brutal dehumanization and injustices” and says “the vestiges of slavery are ever before African-American citizens.”

It also says the House and Senate “express our profound regret for the State of Alabama’s role in slavery and that we apologize for the wrongs inflicted by slavery and its after effects in the United States of America.”

“This proves Alabama is open for everyone and we are ready to improve race relations,” said state Rep. Mary Moore, a Birmingham Democrat who sponsored the resolution. “The issue of slavery and its impact on the country had been kept in the closet until a few Southern states said, ‘We want to take it out of the closet.’”