Kentucky judge temporarily bars removal of Confederate statue  Reuters

© Dylan Lovan/AP Photo Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, speaks in front of the Confederate monument near the University of Louisville with university President James Ramsey, in Louisville, Ky., Friday, April 29…

LOUISVILLE, Ky.- A state judge in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday temporarily blocked a move by the city and a local university to take down a longstanding monument to Confederate soldiers.

Jefferson Circuit Judge Judith McDonald-Burkman issued the temporary injunction after the Sons of Confederate Veterans and others announced their intent to legally block the move by Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and University of Louisville President Dr. James Ramsey.

A hearing on whether to permanently grant the injunction has been scheduled for 1030 am local time on Thursday, according to Ed Springston, one of the men who sought the injunction with the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Fischer's spokesman Chris Poynter said in a text that the mayor stood by his decision to move the statue to a more appropriate location. On Friday, local leaders announced plans to dismantle the 70-foot monument, clean it and place it in storage until another site could be found.