Security will be tight for voting rights rally in downtown Montgomery
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) – Local, state and federal law enforcement officials are prepared for a voting rights rally that is scheduled to take place in downtown Montgomery.
Thousands of people from across the country are expected to attend the rally Saturday afternoon in front of the Alabama Capitol. They are expected to protest the recent decision to redraw the state’s Congressional district lines, which will give Republicans an advantage in the upcoming August 11 special primaries. They believe that voting power is being taken away from Black Alabamians.
Montgomery County Sheriff Derrick Cunningham says his office, the city and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency have been making preparations.
“We’ve been meeting every day, not only have we been meeting locally with us, ALEA and the city, the U.S. Capitol police, they’re here in town, working with them to make sure that people coming to attend the rally are safe,” Cunningham told Action 8 News.
The Southern Poverty Law Center is organizing the event. It also includes activities in Selma, which involve a march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The bridge itself will remain open to traffic.
Here is a list of street closures in downtown Montgomery:
Friday, May 15 – Beginning at 8:00 PM
• Bainbridge Street from Monroe St. to Washington St. will be closed
• Dexter Avenue from Bainbridge St. to S. Decatur St. will be closed
Saturday, May 16 – Beginning at 6:00 AM
• Decatur Street and Hull Street from Monroe St. to Washington St. will be closed
• Dexter Avenue from Hull St. to Bainbridge St. will be closed
• Monroe Street from S. Hull St. to Hilliard St. will be closed
Saturday, May 16 – 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM
• Dexter Avenue from S. Court St. to Hull St. will be closed
