Calls for police reform

Taylor.

A protest was scheduled for tonight in huntsville during the city council meeting -- but was postponed due to weather.

That didn't keep "police reform" from highlighting public comment at the meeting.

Waay 31's will robinson-smith is live in downtown huntsville..

He has more on what residents and the council had to say tonight.

Will?

More than a dozen speakers tonight called for police reforms and for huntsville police chief mark mcmurray to step down following the department's response to the early june protests.

And also vocal tonight were also a handful of people defendeding the confederate monument's placement here at the madison county courthouse.

It's apparent that chief mcmurray... has lost the confidence and trust... to lead the huntsville police.

That sentiment from the citzens coalition for criminal justice reform echoed during the city council meeting thursday night.

Some called back to the decision not to charge two of the officers involved in the shooting death of breonna taylor and called for change in huntsville based on the early june protests.

Lee ellenburg, calling for police reform we are not anti-police.

We're seeking constructive communications.

That's all we're saying and that starts from the top acknowledging that reform is needed, a public acknowledgement.

Those who spoke about police said the issue is not individual officers -- but rather with leadership.

Vera vergara, citizens coalition for criminal justice reform better leadership can give the department a fresh start and a blank slate to implement reforms and help all citizens feel protected.

It is not hard, it will just take some courage.

As many called for reforms and equitable treatment for people of all races -- a trio of men used thier time to defend the current location of the confederate monument -- asserting that because there were black confederate soldiers -- the monument to the confederacy has nothing to do with race.

Gilbert white iii, supports the confederate monument they stood up and they responded to their community, so we owe them honor.

And the veterans monument, the confederate veterans monument honors those people.

During his moment of comment -- huntsville mayor tommy battle addressed the issue of "lost confidence" head on -- saying some important reforms -- like adding tazers in 2017 and implicit bias training in 2018 -- have already happened under chief mcmurray.

Tommy battle, mayor, city of huntsville we as a community need to move forward and it's time to move forward.

But we move forward in such a way that we move forward and we take the actions that have happened over the last 10, 12 years that have been a positive change for our police force and we continue to add to them.

Council member frances akridge committed to continuing the dialogue about policing in huntsville.

She says there will be a town hall next wednesday to discuss the partnership between the police department and the public.

Reporting live in huntsville -- will robinson-smith -- waay 31 news.