FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) — Protect Fayetteville, a group that campaigned against the recently-passed civil rights ordinance in Fayetteville, filed a motion Tuesday (Sept. 29) to dismiss part of its lawsuit.
Protect Fayetteville asked a judge to dismiss its lawsuit against four defendants: Washington County and Washington County Election Commissioners Renee Oelschlaeger, Max Deitchler and Bill Ackerman. However, the claim still stands against the other defendants named in the lawsuit: the City of Fayetteville, Mayor Lioneld Jordan, City Council members Adella Gray, Sarah Marsh, Mark Kinion, Matthew Petty, Justin Tennant, Martin W. Schoppmeyer Jr., John La Tour and Alan Long.
To read the motion, click here.
Protect Fayetteville filed the lawsuit on Aug. 31, the day before early voting began on the Uniform Civil Rights Protection Ordinance 5781. A judge dismissed the group’s motion for an injunction to stop the special election. On Sept. 8, Fayetteville voters passed the civil rights ordinance, which extends protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Fayetteville residents and visitors in matters of employment, housing and public accommodations.
After the special election, Protect Fayetteville announced they will be going forward with the rest of their lawsuit, which claims the City Council vote to hold a special election on Ordinance 5781 was illegal.
The ordinance goes into effect 60 days after the special election.