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CNN Live At Daybreak

Controversy Over Ten Commandments Monument

Aired August 21, 2003 - 05:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: OK, now to the controversy over the Ten Commandments monument. A deadline to remove the monument from the Alabama Judicial Building passed, oh, just about four hours ago. But that monument is right where it is and it's staying there, at least for now.
Twenty-one protesters who want the monument to stay were arrested and charged with trespassing.

CNN's Fredricka Whitfield reports on how the monument got where it is and what it may take to remove it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): In Montgomery, at the Alabama Judicial Building, gatherings for vocal prayer.

UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

WHITFIELD: And passionate opposition.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm just upset. You can see I'm upset.

WHITFIELD: Deeply rooted feelings over this, a two and a half ton granite display of the Ten Commandments financed by the State Supreme Court chief justice, Roy Moore, who in the middle of the night two years ago helped put the monument at the center of the building rotunda. A federal judge saying it's unconstitutional, a violation of the separation between church and state, ordered it removed by midnight. Justice Moore, determined as ever.

CHIEF JUSTICE ROY MOORE, ALABAMA SUPREME COURT: I have no intention of moving the monument.

WHITFIELD: Because, he says, the state's constitution supports him.

MOORE: To do my job, I must acknowledge god.

WHITFIELD: Judge Moore was hoping the U.S. Supreme Court would grant his request for a stay. Wednesday, the higher court refused to intervene, for now. Judge Moore could soon face a $5,000 a day fine, doubling each week. Hours before the midnight deadline, over servings of fried chicken, sweet potatoes and peas...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There you go dear. WHITFIELD: ... at this table, a healthy portion of debate.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The judge went about it wrong in relation to going to the Supreme Court instead of going through the normal appeals process.

WHITFIELD: Should Judge Moore be fined?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If the law says that, yes. Is it fair that he's done that? Probably not.

WHITFIELD: Has the legal battle come between neighbors?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't see it as a clearly divisive thing at this point.

WHITFIELD: Judge Moore's office says an independent legal defense fund is paying for his fight. But taxpayers like Frank Burke (ph), wonder if other important state matters are being shortchanged.

FRANK BURKE: Alabama should be more focused on moving from 48th, 49th and 50th to the top of the educational ladder in this country. And I think this kind of diverts our attention from what the real pressing issues in Alabama are.

WHITFIELD (on camera): If these demonstrators are successful and the monument remains, the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Judge Moore say they could file for an order of contempt. That could come as early as Thursday. A hearing may follow the next day.

Fredricka Whitfield, CNN, Montgomery, Alabama.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And we're going to take you live to Montgomery, Alabama in the next half hour of DAYBREAK. Also, you can see what happens next on this story from your computer at work, cnn.com, AOL keyword: CNN.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired August 21, 2003 - 05:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: OK, now to the controversy over the Ten Commandments monument. A deadline to remove the monument from the Alabama Judicial Building passed, oh, just about four hours ago. But that monument is right where it is and it's staying there, at least for now.
Twenty-one protesters who want the monument to stay were arrested and charged with trespassing.

CNN's Fredricka Whitfield reports on how the monument got where it is and what it may take to remove it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): In Montgomery, at the Alabama Judicial Building, gatherings for vocal prayer.

UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

WHITFIELD: And passionate opposition.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm just upset. You can see I'm upset.

WHITFIELD: Deeply rooted feelings over this, a two and a half ton granite display of the Ten Commandments financed by the State Supreme Court chief justice, Roy Moore, who in the middle of the night two years ago helped put the monument at the center of the building rotunda. A federal judge saying it's unconstitutional, a violation of the separation between church and state, ordered it removed by midnight. Justice Moore, determined as ever.

CHIEF JUSTICE ROY MOORE, ALABAMA SUPREME COURT: I have no intention of moving the monument.

WHITFIELD: Because, he says, the state's constitution supports him.

MOORE: To do my job, I must acknowledge god.

WHITFIELD: Judge Moore was hoping the U.S. Supreme Court would grant his request for a stay. Wednesday, the higher court refused to intervene, for now. Judge Moore could soon face a $5,000 a day fine, doubling each week. Hours before the midnight deadline, over servings of fried chicken, sweet potatoes and peas...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There you go dear. WHITFIELD: ... at this table, a healthy portion of debate.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The judge went about it wrong in relation to going to the Supreme Court instead of going through the normal appeals process.

WHITFIELD: Should Judge Moore be fined?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If the law says that, yes. Is it fair that he's done that? Probably not.

WHITFIELD: Has the legal battle come between neighbors?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't see it as a clearly divisive thing at this point.

WHITFIELD: Judge Moore's office says an independent legal defense fund is paying for his fight. But taxpayers like Frank Burke (ph), wonder if other important state matters are being shortchanged.

FRANK BURKE: Alabama should be more focused on moving from 48th, 49th and 50th to the top of the educational ladder in this country. And I think this kind of diverts our attention from what the real pressing issues in Alabama are.

WHITFIELD (on camera): If these demonstrators are successful and the monument remains, the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Judge Moore say they could file for an order of contempt. That could come as early as Thursday. A hearing may follow the next day.

Fredricka Whitfield, CNN, Montgomery, Alabama.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: And we're going to take you live to Montgomery, Alabama in the next half hour of DAYBREAK. Also, you can see what happens next on this story from your computer at work, cnn.com, AOL keyword: CNN.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com