Jackson Free Press

A lot of people forgave the late former governor George Wallace for his segregationist stance, which he changed a couple of decades before his death. Now, the man who attempted to assassinate Wallace and severely wounded him in 1972 is scheduled to be released after serving 35 years of his 53 year sentence. Wallace's son says he forgives him, but the memories of his father's suffering are still a challenge to face.

BALTIMORE (AP) - Arthur Bremer was a 21-year-old former janitor and busboy when he shot Alabama Gov. George Wallace five times during a presidential campaign stop in 1972 in Maryland.

Now 57, Bremer is preparing for life outside prison. He's scheduled to be released in mid-December and could get out even sooner....

Wallace's son, former state treasurer George Wallace Jr., told the Press-Register of Mobile, Ala., that he got word of Bremer's impending release about two weeks ago.

"I've forgiven Arthur Bremer and my family has, so I think God's law has been adhered to, and we're comfortable with that,'' Wallace told the newspaper. "But having said that, I don't believe that given the suffering my father endured all those years from the gunshots and the constant paralysis - I don't think Arthur Bremer's incarceration comes close to that type of suffering.''

The younger Wallace told the paper that the shooting had a "purifying'' effect on his father, who became more religious and sought forgiveness from blacks for his previous support for segregation. However, the shooting shortened Wallace's life, his son said.

Reached by phone Thursday morning, George Wallace Jr. declined to comment further.

"I don't have any more to say about it,'' he said. "It's just too painful.''

Previous Comments

ID

114199

Comment

This is one story I don't know a lot about. The only thing Bama I like is the jelly! ;-) But, I don't think Wallace Jr. is too thrilled the guy is being released despite his forgiveness. Was Wallace truly "purified" or did fate intervene?

Author

pikersam

Date

2007-08-24T21:15:26-06:00

ID

114200

Comment

I'd say the latter caused the former.

Author

LatashaWillis

Date

2007-08-24T23:41:28-06:00