A Jefferson County judge is scheduled to hear arguments Friday in the state’s lawsuit against the city of Birmingham and former Mayor William Bell for covering a Confederate monument in Linn Park.
Bell had city workers cover the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors monument with plywood in August 2017. His action followed a deadly far-right protest in Charlottesville. That rally was sparked by the Virginia city’s plans to remove a Confederate monument.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall sued Birmingham, saying the city violated the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act by covering the monument.
The city has argued it did not violate the law because it didn’t disturb or alter the monument. The plywood covering remains.
Judge Mike Graffeo will hear the case at 10 a.m. in Jefferson County Circuit Court.