Cecil Williamson, president of the Friends of Forrest, said there’s still time for the city of Selma to settle its case involving the removal of the Nathan Bedford Forrest monument.

But that offer will remain on the table based on the city’s “no response” to the suit.

On Tuesday, Mayor James Perkins Jr. and City Council members met in executive session in council chambers with their attorney Valerie Chittom to discuss the litigation of the case. After the closed session, Chittom said neither the mayor or council members were ready to make a comment on the case.

Council President George Evans said any comments to the public would jeopardize the case. Before the session, Chittom said she wanted to meet with the city officials before they started “conducting interviews.”

The Friends of Forrest filed a total of 15 claims against the city earlier this year, some of which they allege they were deprived of equal protection under the 14th amendment and that the city breached a contract with the Friends of Forrest by moving the Forrest monument.

U. S. District Judge Brevard Hand dismissed all but four of the claims, denying the city’s request to dismiss all claims and said the Friends of Forrest can sue on the following grounds:

* The city of Selma deprived the Friends of Forrest of equal protection of the law in violation of the 14th Amendment by failing to prosecute vandals of the Forrest monument.

* Mayor James Perkins Jr., in his individual capacity, defamed the group when he allegedly stated to a TV reporter and in a report to the Selma Police that “a person associated with Friends of Forrest telephoned Councilwoman Jean Martin and made a threat to her.”

* The city of Selma breached a contract with the Friends of Forrest by moving the Forrest monument.

* The city of Selma converted its property when it moved the Forrest monument.

Williamson said the group and their attorney, Charles E. Yow, Sr., have repeatedly tried to mediate the dispute with the city, but the city has refused to respond to a possible settlement.

When asked whether or not the Friends of Forrest would be satisfied if the city agreed to move the monument back to the Smitherman Building, Williamson replied, “We are asking to be treated equally with everyone else. That may or may not include moving the monument back to the Smitherman Building.”

“The city has deprived us of protection under the 14th Amendment, for failing to prosecute vandals that threw trash on the monument. If the city had a case involving any other monument being vandalized, they would have prosecuted the vandals. They have done nothing to the (Forrest monument) vandals and they were videotaped doing so,” he said.