Did Woodfin apologize for feud or stoke it? Doesn’t mention Givan, but says: ‘I messed up’

That was an apparent reference to State Rep. Juandalynn Givan, who called Birmingham “unsafe,” said the Birmingham Police Department was dangerously understaffed, and said in the event of another “catastrophic event,” Gov. Kay Ivey may need to send in the National Guard to maintain public safety in Birmingham.

Woodfin responded with a social media meme featuring mugshots of state legislators and thanking them for their support, with Given’s mugshot in the center over the words, “Not you.”

Woodfin’s apology on Friday seemed to be addressing his criticism of Givan in the aftermath of a mass shooting.

“It was a mistake, and I own it,” Woodfin said in his video apology.

Woodfin just made matters worse, Givan said.

“I am happy that he felt a need to apologize to the citizens of Birmingham,” said Givan, who noted she worked for the administrations of previous mayors Richard Arrington, William Bell, Bernard Kincaid and has been in the Legislature for 14 years.

But the apology was not to her, she said.

“To say the one percent, that’s to slight me, and it’s very unfortunate,” Givan said. “You didn’t apologize to me, and then you cut me in the apology.”

By saying she was unsupportive, it was simply another dig, she said.

“When you then say the one percent, who is the one percent?” Givan said. “It’s another jab, it’s another attack, and another attempt to target me. You are the leader of this city, and you yet again offer on social media an apology or whatever it is, to attack me in a very subliminal way, if that is the best he has to offer, God bless the city of Birmingham.”

Givan announced today that plans to sponsor a bill in the next Legislative session prohibiting possession of a bump stock in a Class 1 municipality, which refers to Birmingham.

“I want to unify the citizens of Birmingham,” Givan said. “I have no problem with the mayor of Birmingham. I never have. I’ve always held him in high regards. I’ve always tried to give him advice. I’ve been a protector, in Montgomery, of this mayor, for those who have wanted to open up the mayor-council act, to give consideration to stripping power away.

“The situation on Monday was very unfortunate, however, the mayor did not target the city of Birmingham with a meme. He purposefully targeted me as a Black female seasoned elected official. I would certainly have preferred that the mayor pick up and the phone and say to me, Juandalynn, can we talk?”