Alabama Protesters Want to Vote on Victoryland Casino
Outside of Alabama’s state capitol, bus-loads of protesters were waiting to have their voices heard. “Let us vote!”, they cried enthusiastically. Over 100 people were packed onto the steps of the state capitol building to take a stand against Governor Riley’s task force on illegal gambling. The state is currently waiting for the Alabama Supreme Court to rule if they can follow through on a planned raid of Victoryland Casino. The hang up, however, comes from a push in Montgomery from politicians and others to bring this continuing issue to a statewide vote. Despite protesters calling the Governor and his task force to task, the Governor isn’t backing down. He has been a long-standing opponent of the move and knows full well what a huge task he has before him if he is going to stand strong. Thus far, he is managing to uphold his position and deny casinos.
“About a year ago we determined that there was absolutely no gray area, no ambiguity in the law. The law is crystal clear that you can not do what these casino’s are doing today,” said Governor Riley. Shortly after leaving the capitol, the Governor had to leave to go to Washington, DC, where he and other legislators were to meet with President Barack Obama regarding energy issues. The Governor did take the chance outside the capitol, however, to say that he had a choice to make when the Attorney General and some local officials were unwilling to act and that’s why he created the task force on illegal gambling. Some believe that it is only a matter time before Riley is forced to relent.
The debates are still going on, but one thing that the legislators do know is that by eliminating gambilng, they are turning away the millions in tax-dollar revenue that could potentially help turn the state’s economy around for the good. It will be time before any changes are seen and until them, both parties are left to duke it out over legalizing the games. No one knows where it will end up, but if Riley has his way, he will stand firm on the issue and not allow the casinos to continue running.
