construction worker (illustrative)
construction worker (illustrative)Reuters

A Virginia company filed a lawsuit after it was forced to stop its construction of a monument in Alabama honoring a noted Confederate general, who also was a member of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK).

The federal suit, filed by KTK Mining of Richmond, claims that the company received the necessary permits to do the work on the monument in Old Live Oak Cemetery honoring Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, The Selma Times-Journal reported.

However, the city of Selma, Alabama, suspended the permits when the project drew protests.

The KTK mining company claims it had not received notice prior to the suspension.

"The city made a representation that he could do the work, he invested time, money, energy, planning and now the city has stopped that without any compensation," said City Council President Cecil Williamson, according to ABC News.

The city filed a response saying that its actions were reasonable and that it has legal immunity.

"We need monuments to people who are trying to build this country not monuments to people who were the first grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan," said Selma State Senator Hank Sanders.

KTK Mining filed claims with the city of Selma, seeking compensation of $600,000.

In June, a request made by a chapter of the KKK to “adopt a highway” in Georgia was rejected by state authorities saying that, “Promoting an organization with a history of inciting civil disturbance and social unrest would present a grave concern to the department. Issuing this permit would have the potential to negatively impact the quality of life, commerce and economic development of Union County and all of Georgia.”