Athens, GA |

UPDATE:  The family of a 20 year old male fatally wounded in a shooting with a federal agent cancelled a march they had scheduled this morning. The family had originally scheduled the march from 10am to 12pm in front of the Athens-Clarke County courthouse.

Javonta Darden was fatally shot on September 30  in the shooting involving an ATF agent. The ATF agent was also wounded. Darden’s Father, Randy Darden, says he cancelled the protest march because he says he was notified by ACC Police on Friday that he would need a permit in order to protest in downtown Athens. He says he had not requested that permit, but he plans to do so, though he does not have a time or date set for the protest march.

We spoke with Major Mark Sizemore from Athens-Clarke County Police this morning. He says that, “We did not and would not tell the family that they could not protest because it is their first amendment right to do so.” He added, “We didn’t tell them that they couldn’t have a permit to march. They wanted a vendor permit to sell t-shirts and we put them with the governing body that handles that.” The police department does not issue vendor permits. He added that it is notice to march, not a permit to march.

The march was intended to raise the $1,700 the family says they need to cover the cost of Javonta Darden’s funeral. The family added the march was also intended to support justice for Steven Mckinley, the 21 year old currently behind bars facing multiple state and federal charges in connection with the shooting. The family says they also want to raise awareness about police violence.

The federal agent, who remains unidentified, is recovering from a gunshot wound sustained in the shootout that occurred September 30, at the Airport Mini Mart.