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Oxford's Target at Oxford Exchange.
(William Thornton / wthornton@al.com)
A protest is being planned for Saturday in Oxford against the city's ordinance making it illegal to use a public restroom different from the gender on a person's birth certificate.
Equality Calhoun is organizing a demonstration at Oxford City Park from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday.
A post on the event's Facebook page states that the demonstration will have several speakers.
"Come out and support our transgender friends and family, and protest the recent bathroom ordinance passed by Oxford City Council," the page reads. "We will gather in the field out near the interstate. Bring flags and signs and we'll try to show the world that not everyone in Oxford is ridiculous. #standwithtrans."
Last week, Oxford's city council made it a misdemeanor punishable by a $500 fine or six months in jail to use a bathroom opposite the person's biological sex at birth. The ordinance came in response to a change is policy by national chain Target.
The retailer announced it would allow transgender employees and shoppers to use the restroom that matches their gender identity as opposed to the gender with which they were born.
Oxford Police Chief Bill Partridge said in a statement that he had met with organizers who "understand the need to be peaceful and to respect the rights of others."
"We as a law enforcement agency are charged with protecting everyone's constitutional rights to assemble peacefully and allow their voices to be heard," he said through his Facebook page. "They have gone through the proper channels to peacefully protest. But I warn ANYONE who may plan to cause a disturbance or violate the law, or the rights of others will be dealt with immediately and with ZERO tolerance. We are here for the protection of everyone, and we will enforce the law."