Add a new video from an old political voice in the state’s gambling debate.

The Alabama Policy Institute showcases a five-and-a-half minute video of former governor John Patterson. Patterson’s father, Albert, was fatally shot in 1954 in Phenix City after pledging a crack down on illegal gambling and mob operations in the east Alabama city.

The video is titled “You Don’t Want That in Your Town.”

You can watch the video on YouTube here.

API’s president, Gary Palmer, says the segment started as a report on “how gambling literally took over Phenix City” in the 1950’s. Palmer says after that conversation, Patterson started talking about the night his father was shot.

The videographer “just kept on rolling,” Palmer says.

Several gambling foes, including Gov. Bob Riley, have referred to the corruption story of Phenix City, circa 1950’s, to talk about the dangers of gambling in the state.

Read more of Rick Journey’s blogs here.

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