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Florence Council votes down marker 4-2
By Bernie Delinski Staff Writer Published: January 22, 2026 FLORENCE — City councilmembers who voted down a marker designed to give context to the Confederate monument outside the Lauderdale County Courthouse expressed a desire for unity. Those favoring the marker said history must be fully addressed before unity is reached. Council members denied a request to place the marker on the courthouse lawn by a 4-2 vote with Jackie Hendrix, Josh Bowling, Thomas Spence and Chapel Kin
Jan 244 min read
Florence City Council Votes to Suppress the Truth About Their Confederate Statue
By: Kevin M. Levin Published: Jan. 21, 2026 The issue at hand for the Florence (Alabama) City Council this week was not whether their Confederate statue would be removed. That question had essentially been settled by the state when it passed the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act of 2017 , which which restricts removal or relocation of monuments older than 40 years without state approval and imposes penalties for unauthorized alteration. Rather, the question for the city coun
Jan 244 min read
Florence debates historical marker to add context to Confederate monument
Author: Valentina Chelala, FOX54 News Published: 8:46 AM CST January 19, 2026 Updated: 6:23 AM CST January 20, 2026 FLORENCE, Ala. — Florence City Council will debate placing a historical marker in front of the Lauderdale County Courthouse to provide context about the Confederate monument there during Tuesday night's meeting. The resolution would authorize city officials to have the marker manufactured, installed, and funded. Under Alabama law, the monument is considered his
Jan 242 min read
Florence City Council to vote on plaque to be placed in front of Confederate monument
By WAFF 48 Digital Staff and Aria Pons Published: Jan. 18, 2026 at 4:26 PM CST | Updated: Jan. 18, 2026 at 5:48 PM CST FLORENCE, Ala. ( WAFF ) - The Florence City Council will debate and vote on a plaque that may be placed in front of the controversial Confederate Soldiers Monument this week . The monument has stood outside three different Lauderdale County Courthouses since 1903. And outside the current Lauderdale County Courthouse since 1965 and has been targeted by demonst
Jan 243 min read
What We Lose When We Win: Exhaustion and the Fight Against Racist Repression
By: Camille Bennet Published June 21, 2022 ’m exhausted. It’s the same exhaustion I feel every year around this time. Until it’s over, my mind betrays my body into thinking that I don’t need to rest. As soon as the legislative session ends, tiredness creeps into my bones. But I’m not just tired in my body; my heart is also exhausted. My story is not unique. I am an organizer who works countless hours, day and night, to fight for my community in Alabama. The level of exhaustio
Oct 23, 20256 min read
House Public Safety Committee members raise concerns over police obstruction bill
https://www.alreporter.com/2025/03/20/house-public-safety-committee-members-raise-concerns-over-police-obstruction-bill/ By Alex Jobin Published on March 20, 2025 at 7:22 am CDT On Wednesday, the Alabama House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee held a public hearing on HB224 , a bill introduced by Rep. Allen Treadaway, R-District 51, that would expand the definition of “obstructing governmental operations” to include any instance where a person “intentionally appro
Oct 23, 20254 min read
Project Say Something founder provides update on Florence Confederate statue marker
By Aria Pons https://www.waff.com/2025/10/01/project-say-something-founder-provides-update-florence-confederate-statue-marker/ LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Ala. ( WAFF ) - The founder of Project Say Something, Camille Bennett, and the historical commission recently approved language for a historical marker to be placed next to a Confederate monument outside the Lauderdale County courthouse . Bennett says the marker is needed to give the statue historical context, since its removal is
Oct 1, 20251 min read
SB 247 Moves Forward: Now Is the Time to Say Something
Let’s be clear: this bill is not about safety. It’s about silencing dissent.
Apr 8, 20252 min read
Project Say Something Opposes SB 247: Defending the Right to Protest in Alabama
"Alabama is the heart of the Civil Rights Movement. Black folk in Alabama understand the necessity of exercising our First Amendment rights as a pathway to freedom and navigation through white supremacist systems," Bennett stated.
Apr 8, 20252 min read
Project Say Something Stands Firm Against HB 224: Defending the Right to Protest
Camille Bennett, founder and director of Project Say Something, voiced strong opposition on March 19th, opposing the bill during the committee hearing.
Apr 2, 20252 min read
HB 224: A Threat to Our Right to Protest and Hold Authorities Accountable
Sponsored by Rep. Allen Treadaway, HB 224 seeks to amend existing laws related to obstructing governmental operations.
Apr 1, 20253 min read
SB 247: A Direct Attack on Our Right to Protest
Introduced by Senator Arthur Orr, SB 247 seeks to impose severe restrictions on protests in residential areas and near places of employment.
Mar 31, 20253 min read
Activists in Alabama city continue fight to contextualize Confederate monument
By Safiya Charles Source: https://www.splcenter.org/news/2024/08/30/activists-alabama-city-continue-fight-contextualize-confederate-monum...
Aug 30, 20246 min read
Shoals nonprofit pays for billboard to denounce the votes of two councilmen
By Aria Pons Source: https://www.waff.com/2024/08/21/shoals-nonprofit-paid-billboard-denounce-votes-two-councilmen/ FLORENCE, Ala. ( WAFF...
Aug 20, 20243 min read
Marker to explain confederate marker voted down in Florence City Council
By Aria Pons Source: https://www.waff.com/2024/05/08/marker-explain-confederate-marker-voted-down-florence-city-council/ FLORENCE, Ala. (...
May 7, 20242 min read
Florence-based nonprofit members frustrated after no discussion on proposed marker at city council meeting
By Lynsey Smith Source: https://whnt.com/news/shoals/florence-based-nonprofit-members-frustrated-after-no-discussion-on-proposed-marker-a...
Apr 16, 20242 min read
Project Say Something, Florence to erect marker on racist origins of “Eternal Vigil”
By Staff Source: https://www.alreporter.com/2024/04/16/project-say-something-florence-to-erect-marker-on-racist-origins-of-eternal-vigil/...
Apr 16, 20241 min read
Protestors to Florence Confederate monument reach tentative settlement
Source: https://aldailynews.com/protestors-to-florence-confederate-monument-reach-tentative-settlement/ FLORENCE, Ala. (AP) — The city of...
Sep 20, 20232 min read
Project Say Something Secures First Amendment Victory Through Collaborative Efforts
By Project Say Something Source: https://www.bibbvoice.com/2023/09/18/project-say-something-secures-first-amendment-victory-through-colla...
Sep 18, 20232 min read
Students, teachers and advocates fight against censorship in Alabama schools
By Rhonda Sonnenberg Senior Staff Writer Source: https://www.splcenter.org/news/2023/07/14/alabama-students-teachers-fight-censorship...
Jul 14, 20237 min read
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