Marshall County commissioners pass resolution requiring permits to picket

Marshall County commissioners pass resolution requiring permits to picket

You're taking a live look outside the marshall county courthouse.

People protesting for the removal of a confederate monument and flag there will now have to get a permit.

County commissioners approved the change today following months of protests in albertville.

The protest organizer vows to press on.

Waay 31's sophia borrelli is live for us at the courthouse.

Sophia, the group says they are still protesting tonight.

I am told the group of protesters who are calling for the removal of this confederate monument and flag are gathering at x location.

This comes as the county commission passed that resolution - now saying you need a permit to protest here on courthouse property.

James hutcheson, marshall county commission chairman: "in the last several weeks, we've had several protests in the marshall county courthouse and it was getting to the point where i was scared there would be some issues, be some people arrested, be some trouble, and it was interrupting operations of the marshall county courthouse."

That's why the marshall county commission chairman says he decided to come up with this resolution requiring a permit to protest.

James hutcheson, marshall county commission chairman: "to make sure everyone is treated fairly.

Everyone has the opportunity to express their opinion, but also the courthouse operation is not interrupted."

The organizer of the group reclaiming our time - who has been organizing protests in the past at courthouses in albertville and guntersville says this resolution isn't stopping her cause.

Unique dunston, protest organizer: "the resolution has already set a new fire inside of me...we will be wherever we choose to be because it is our constitutional right to do so.

So this will not stop us, this will not stop our plans, we will continue protesting."

She says she has already contacted her attorneys about this resolution.

Unique dunston, protest organizer: "the attorneys i have consulted with in just the past hour are very upset and concerned and angry at this decision.

" there have been many protests with protesters and counter protesters gathering at the same time and having to stay on seperate sides - sometimes even seperated by sheriff's depuities.

In the resolution - the chairman says he has the ability to only allow one group to picket at a time.

There are also rules and regulations on how groups can and cannot picket.

The chairtman says as for the removal of the monument and flag - the commission has not talked about it.

James hutcheson, marshall county commission chairman: "that has not been discussed as of the present.

I don't know when it will be discussed."

The sheriff told me that he fully supports the resolution and his department is ready to handle any person or group in violation of it.

Live in albertville - sophia borrelli waay 31 news.

Thanks sophia.

Commissioners passed the resolution and it