Civil Rights activists meet with Anniston Police

Civil rights activists met with Anniston police Thursday to discuss the suspensions of two officers accused of being members of a hate group.  Anniston's African-American city council members, David Reddick and Seyram Selase, joned the activists at a press conference afterwards to make comments about the investigation.  A report released Wednesday by the Southern Poverty Law Center in its Hatewatch blog claimed officers Josh Doggrell and Wayne Brown are members of the League of the South, which the SPLC identifies at a hate group.  The president of the Calhoun County chapter of the NAACP, David Baker, said the report came as a surprise to him, and so did others.  However, council member Reddick said Anniston's previous leadership knew about Doggrell's membership.The local NAACP chapter president said he is satisfied with the suspension of the officers, although he wishes it was unpaid leave.  Baker said the city needs time to conduct its investigation.  He said this is about two officers and not the whole department.

Baker said the police department took the right steps to relieve the officers of duty.  He said the department has a right to investigate the officers, and the officers have a right to be investigated before possible termination.

Baker asked the community to be patient as the city investigates the officer's involvement in an alleged hate group.  Reddick agreed, and said he hopes it will not become a situation where the community loses control before the police and council can take control themselves.

Vice-mayor Seyram Selase said the city does not take the allegations lightly, but said at this point, they are only allegations.