Glynn County Commission Sues To Block Vote On Abolishing Police Force

|

September 1st, 2020

In this Thursday, June 4 photo, a group of protesters gather outside the Glynn County Courthouse while a preliminary hearing is being held inside for Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael and William Bryan, in Brunswick, Georgia. The three are accused of shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in February. The Glynn County commissioners are suing to stop a referendum on abolishing the county police department. State lawmakers approved the binding referendum in the spring after the February shooting death of Arbery.

Stephen B. Morton / Associated Press file

The commissioners of a coastal Georgia county where a Black man, Ahmaud Arbery, was fatally shot after being pursued by armed white men are suing to stop a referendum on abolishing the county police department.

The Glynn County Commission filed the lawsuit Friday, The Brunswick News reports. The report said the lawsuit argues that a state law mandating the November vote is unconstitutional. The referendum would seek to abolish the county police agency and hand law enforcement authority over to the sheriff.

State lawmakers approved the binding referendum in the spring after Arbery’s February shooting death, though the referendum effort has its roots in scandals that took place earlier.

Related

Top Stories