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CNN Live Event/Special
Protestors Want Alabama Attorney General to Resign
Aired August 26, 2003 - 19:21 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.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Looking at a live picture outside the courthouse. Protesters trying to keep a Ten Commandments display in Alabama state judicial building now are demanding the resignation of the attorney general, who's reluctantly planning to follow the law and have it removed.
David Mattingly is in Montgomery.
David, what's the latest developments?
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, you're looking at the remnants of an afternoon prayer meeting and rally. It's something they schedule every afternoon to coincide with the end of business hours today.
A lot of criticism today for Alabama attorney general Bill Pryor. In fact, this was the scene earlier today when people -- some of the protesters here decided to stretch their legs.
They marched up the hill to the capital building, expressing their displeasure in part with Pryor's comments today a plan was in place and the monument to the Ten Commandments will be moved soon. But how soon he wouldn't say.
Back to live pictures now, a plan is in place here for the protesters, as well. When they are aware that the monument is being moved they will kneel and block the exits of the building. It is supposed to be a largely symbolic show of civil disobedience, as when this monument is moved, it will probably not be moved out of the building but just to another location inside the building. They will still comply with the court order once it is out of public view -- Anderson.
COOPER: David, how long have these protesters been out there? Are they the same people or do they go in shifts or are they sort of moving back and forth?
MATTINGLY: There are people commuting from cities to come here every single day. There are people who are from the Montgomery area who come out here and spend almost all day. There have been people from across the country. We've seen people from California and Ohio coming out here to be a part of this.
The crowd literally changes by the day, and sometimes by the hour. A couple of dozen people, maybe close to 100 people, maybe more out here right now. We're expecting a lot more now that evening is coming. People will be off work and there will be some entertainment out here, as they've had every evening.
A lot of people preparing to gather again at night to show their support for keeping the monument here just where it was placed here by Chief Justice Roy Moore -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right. We'll see what happens. David Mattingly, thanks very much.
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 26, 2003 - 19:21 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Looking at a live picture outside the courthouse. Protesters trying to keep a Ten Commandments display in Alabama state judicial building now are demanding the resignation of the attorney general, who's reluctantly planning to follow the law and have it removed.
David Mattingly is in Montgomery.
David, what's the latest developments?
DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Anderson, you're looking at the remnants of an afternoon prayer meeting and rally. It's something they schedule every afternoon to coincide with the end of business hours today.
A lot of criticism today for Alabama attorney general Bill Pryor. In fact, this was the scene earlier today when people -- some of the protesters here decided to stretch their legs.
They marched up the hill to the capital building, expressing their displeasure in part with Pryor's comments today a plan was in place and the monument to the Ten Commandments will be moved soon. But how soon he wouldn't say.
Back to live pictures now, a plan is in place here for the protesters, as well. When they are aware that the monument is being moved they will kneel and block the exits of the building. It is supposed to be a largely symbolic show of civil disobedience, as when this monument is moved, it will probably not be moved out of the building but just to another location inside the building. They will still comply with the court order once it is out of public view -- Anderson.
COOPER: David, how long have these protesters been out there? Are they the same people or do they go in shifts or are they sort of moving back and forth?
MATTINGLY: There are people commuting from cities to come here every single day. There are people who are from the Montgomery area who come out here and spend almost all day. There have been people from across the country. We've seen people from California and Ohio coming out here to be a part of this.
The crowd literally changes by the day, and sometimes by the hour. A couple of dozen people, maybe close to 100 people, maybe more out here right now. We're expecting a lot more now that evening is coming. People will be off work and there will be some entertainment out here, as they've had every evening.
A lot of people preparing to gather again at night to show their support for keeping the monument here just where it was placed here by Chief Justice Roy Moore -- Anderson.
COOPER: All right. We'll see what happens. David Mattingly, thanks very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
