(TargetLiberty.org) – A Georgia county, where a controversial shooting took place in February, is suing the state to stop a public vote on scrapping the local police department. Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old black man, was shot dead after a scuffle with two local men who challenged him while he was jogging. In June, the state legislature voted to hold a binding referendum on whether the Glynn County Police Department should be stood down and its work handed over to the county sheriff.
The Georgia House voted 152-3 Friday for an effort to abolish the Glynn County Police Department following its handling of the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery.
If approved by the state senate, voters would be allowed to decide to dissolve their county police department.
— Everything Georgia (@GAFollowers) June 21, 2020
Now the county commission has filed a lawsuit to cancel the referendum, which is due to be held the same day as the general election. They’re arguing that the laws mandating it are unconstitutional on several grounds. First, they say, the Georgia General Assembly doesn’t have the right to rule on issues the state constitution grants to counties. Secondly, Glynn County citizens were never consulted on the proposals. Thirdly, they say the referendum date doesn’t give the legally required 90-day notice.
This is an ongoing story, stay tuned for more updates.
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