GREENWOOD, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina man has desegregated names on a World War I plaque despite ongoing litigation over a state monuments law.

Trey Ward tells The Index-Journal he put up a new plaque listing Greenwood soldiers in alphabetical order, rather than by race, last week.

A veterans group was seeking the change to promote equality. A judge recently ruled in favor of the American Legion.

The judge noted the monument was privately owned, even though it sits on public property. The judge said private ownership makes changes OK despite state law that generally prohibits monument alterations without legislative approval. That law was enacted to protect monuments during debate over removing the Confederate flag from atop the Statehouse.

State officials asked the judge to reconsider because they think the decision could leave other monuments unprotected.