Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
Protesters Attempted to Halt Move of Ten Commandments Monument
Aired August 25, 2003 - 15:30 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A battle of Biblical proportions is going on in a couple fronts in Alabama. At the state judicial building barricades go up presumably before the controversial Ten Commandments display is hauled off. In the courtroom, meantime, supporters fight to keep that from happening.
Let's go live to CNN's David Mattingly. He's in Montgomery -- David.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the latest here at the courthouse, we do have a bit of a change. There are barricades that went up just outside the glass doors here outside the Alabama supreme court building.
This was the scene just before the hour. And it was overseen by uniformed police officers. Organizers of the protesters out here say the barricades were being erected as a safety precaution. It's presumed a lot of people will want to go up to the doors, those glass doors to see the monuments being moved, if they are, in fact, moved sometime today. So, again, those barricades erected as a precaution.
There are still people behind those barricades. Those are people with cameras, members of the news media. They are also keeping an eye on that monument at this hour.
Now, while all of this is going on, everyone here is also wondering what's going on in federal court in Mobile. That's where a lawsuit was filed today by two people who now claim that if this monument is moved from this public building here in Montgomery, then their rights are being violated, arguing that the state is then -- the U.S. government is then playing favorites with people who do not worship God over people who do.
And also, we have a copy of this document that was filed in court. In bold letters, at one point here, it quotes some of the words of Justice Roy Moore. Roy Moore, the man who put the monument in this building here two years ago, citing his argument that the Alabama constitution requires him to establish justice and invoke the favor and guidance of God.
So that argument going on in federal court in Mobile right now. It is hope that the people here are hoping that that argument will be enough for the judge to either temporarily stop or reverse the order of the federal judge here in Montgomery who last week ordered that these -- this monument to the Ten Commandments be moved. So at this moment, again, the same thing we've been seeing for the past several days now, the crowd gathering, anticipating, waiting and watching to see if this monument will be moved -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. David Mattingly, we continue to follow the story. Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Monument>
Aired August 25, 2003 - 15:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: A battle of Biblical proportions is going on in a couple fronts in Alabama. At the state judicial building barricades go up presumably before the controversial Ten Commandments display is hauled off. In the courtroom, meantime, supporters fight to keep that from happening.
Let's go live to CNN's David Mattingly. He's in Montgomery -- David.
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kyra, the latest here at the courthouse, we do have a bit of a change. There are barricades that went up just outside the glass doors here outside the Alabama supreme court building.
This was the scene just before the hour. And it was overseen by uniformed police officers. Organizers of the protesters out here say the barricades were being erected as a safety precaution. It's presumed a lot of people will want to go up to the doors, those glass doors to see the monuments being moved, if they are, in fact, moved sometime today. So, again, those barricades erected as a precaution.
There are still people behind those barricades. Those are people with cameras, members of the news media. They are also keeping an eye on that monument at this hour.
Now, while all of this is going on, everyone here is also wondering what's going on in federal court in Mobile. That's where a lawsuit was filed today by two people who now claim that if this monument is moved from this public building here in Montgomery, then their rights are being violated, arguing that the state is then -- the U.S. government is then playing favorites with people who do not worship God over people who do.
And also, we have a copy of this document that was filed in court. In bold letters, at one point here, it quotes some of the words of Justice Roy Moore. Roy Moore, the man who put the monument in this building here two years ago, citing his argument that the Alabama constitution requires him to establish justice and invoke the favor and guidance of God.
So that argument going on in federal court in Mobile right now. It is hope that the people here are hoping that that argument will be enough for the judge to either temporarily stop or reverse the order of the federal judge here in Montgomery who last week ordered that these -- this monument to the Ten Commandments be moved. So at this moment, again, the same thing we've been seeing for the past several days now, the crowd gathering, anticipating, waiting and watching to see if this monument will be moved -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right. David Mattingly, we continue to follow the story. Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Monument>
