Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall Files Lawsuit Against City for Violating the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin was “slapped with a lawsuit” after starting to remove a Confederate monument. Crowds demanding justice for George Floyd vandalized the monument, prompting Randall to take action.

Woodfin ordered the removal of the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Linn Park on Monday. A large crane then tore down the 115-year-old 52-foot-tall structure.

“I chose my city to avoid more civil unrest,” Woodfin said. “It’s probably better for this city to pay this civil fine than to have more civil unrest,” he then added.

“It's important to note that the city of Birmingham wasn't even a city during the Civil War,” he added. “We don't have time to worry about something that's not working for our city and relegates black people to property and slavery. It's important that we take this down and move forward,” also mentioned.

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has announced “that he has filed a new lawsuit against the City of Birmingham for its removal of a historic monument in violation of the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act,” said a news release.

“The lawsuit seeks additional penalties after the City lost a similar lawsuit filed by the State in 2017,” the release also mentioned.

The Alabama Legislature passed the act in 2017 “to protect architecturally significant buildings, memorial buildings, memorial streets, and monuments located on public property for 40 or more years.”

According to Marshall, the city would face a $25,000 fine, which will then go to the Historic Preservation Fund.

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