DURHAM -- Durham County's sheriff wants to change the way people protest on county property.           

County commissioners took up his proposal Tuesday during a regular board work session.

Sheriff Mike Andrews wants a change to the county's facility use policy that would require a group of 50 or more protesters must submit advanced notice within 48 business hours.

Andrews said the change is to ensure the county provides enough resources to keep people safe.           

If a notice isn't given, authorities could determine that protesters are trespassing and officers could remove them.

A few activists spoke against those changes to commissioners.

“The sheriff's department has a long record of trying to silence dissent in this chamber,” said Durham resident Gregory Williams.

The sheriff first proposed the changes back in August shortly after protesters toppled a Confederate statue from its pedestal.