NPR by Brakkton Booker 11/27/2019
Alabama's Supreme Court ruled unanimously Wednesday that the city of Birmingham broke state law when it ordered plywood screens be placed around the base of a Confederate monument in 2017.
The 9-0 ruling by Alabama's high court reversed a ruling by a lower court that was favorable to the city.
The Jefferson Circuit Court ruled in January that Alabama's law protecting historical monuments was ambiguous and that it also violated the city of Birmingham's right to free speech.
The Alabama Supreme Court said the lower court erred when it ruled that the municipality had constitutional rights to free speech. In its ruling, the high court ordered the circuit judge to "enter an order declaring that the [city's] actions constitute a violation" and also imposed a fine of $25,000 against Birmingham.
More:
https://www.npr.org/2019/11/27/783376085/confederate-monument-law-upheld-by-alabama-supreme-court
