North Carolina's NAACP leader has challenged new rules about public assembly in the state Legislative Building as part of protests targeting policies by the GOP-led Legislature.
About 75 people marched to the building with the Rev. William Barber on Wednesday for a demonstration as lawmakers reconvened this year's session.
After prayers and speeches, Barber asked the group to follow him in a lap around the Rotunda between chambers.
A law enforcement official stopped Barber near the House chamber. A tense exchange ended with Barber turning back to the group to criticize the new rules.
A memo on the rules from the Legislative Services Office says police can designate separate areas to allow legislators to come and go from the chambers and that the restrictions will not deny free speech rights.
