Senator Rodger Smitherman of Alabama has forcefully opposed proposed budget cuts that would eliminate funding for the Magic City Classic football game, a long-standing tradition in Birmingham. The proposed budget of $3.7 billion included $200,000 for the event, but the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee removed this funding on April 1 in an effort to prioritize budgeting.
Senator Smitherman vowed to use filibuster rules in the Senate to resist these cuts, emphasizing the importance of the Magic City Classic and its impact on the community. The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) also urged residents to speak out against these potential cuts, highlighting the significance of protecting civil rights history.
The Magic City Classic is a major celebration of HBCU culture that brings around 60,000 people to Birmingham each year, generating an estimated economic boost of over $20 million for the city. The game, which has been held annually since 1945, is considered the most significant event in Birmingham and the largest HBCU event in the nation.
With these proposed budget cuts threatening important community events and organizations, Senator Smitherman and the BCRI are mobilizing support to protect the funding necessary to sustain these essential cultural and economic assets in Alabama.
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