GULF SHORES, AL. — The Alabama Oil Spill Aftermath Coalition and the City of Gulf Shores reached a compromise on a permit allowing the group to stage a protest during the Shrimp Festival on Saturday.

Gulf Shores previously denied the permit because of safety concerns with having the protest during the Shrimp Festival. Mayor Robert Craft said when the permit was first denied that he agreed with the purpose of the protest, but other concerns precluded the city from issuing the permit.

The group then said it would have the protest permit or no. Finally a compromise was reached on Sunday.

“Free speech is protected under the Constitution and we will always try and work with groups seeking public assembly permits to determine a way to allow them,” Mayor Robert Craft said in an email to Gulf Coast Newspapers. “Consideration will be determined by efforts to maximize public safety given anticipated conditions at the time of the assembly.”

Protesters with the group must take shuttle buses or private cars and enter the beach at the public access area on East Second Street. They will be allowed to proceed to a designated area between lifeguard towers one and two, erect a tent and hand out pamphlets and other information.

The event will run from noon- 4 p.m. They will not be allowed to distribute material except at the designated site. They will not be allowed to use amplified sound equipment.

The group feels like BP has not done enough to make up for the devastation of 185 million gallons spilling into the Gulf following the Deepwater Horizon spill which started in April of last year.

“The purpose of this demonstration is to raise awareness of the media, and thousands in attendance, that BP has not made us whole after the deadly explosion on April, 20th 2010 of the Deepwater Horizon,” coalition member Michelle Walker said a news release.