City of Charleston closes Marion Square due to protesters

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The City of Charleston has announced the closure of Marion Square due to protesters.

“The City of Charleston has closed Marion Square early tonight due to protestors,” said officials with Charleston police. “The Square is expected to reopen as normal at dawn tomorrow.”

Earlier this afternoon a group of people who wanted the statue to remain held a protest at Marion Square and spoke why it should stay.

Counter protesters also showed up at the event.

Live 5′s Harve Jacobs said during the event it got heated between the two groups with some people attempting to break through a fence which had been placed in the park.

Police in riot gear were then seen responding to the area, and authorities told people to leave Marion Square.

Protesters who wanted the statue removed then began marching through downtown Charleston.

Jacobs said someone was placed into custody by police during the march.

Last week, Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg made a call to relocate the statue to a local museum. He sent a resolution to city council.

Council is expected to vote on the resolution on Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Marion Square is owned by the Washington Light Infantry which has gone on record wanting to keep the statue up.

Attorneys representing the Washington Light Infantry released the following statement Monday night regarding the Calhoun statue:

The Washington Light Infantry Sumter Guards Board of Officers has no ownership interest in the Calhoun Monument, and with assurances that the Board’s ownership and interest in Marion Square will not be impacted by the City’s anticipated removal of the statue, has no legal basis to challenge the City’s actions.

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