Charges against Occupy Columbia protesters dropped

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Occupy Columbia protesters and their attorneys are declaring victory after Richland County’s chief prosecutor dismissed charges against 19 protesters arrested last month for defying the governor’s deadline to leave Statehouse grounds.

Protester Ashley Blewer said Thursday the dismissals again vindicate Occupy Columbia. She was among 10 arrested protesters at a news conference.

Prosecutor Dan Johnson says he dropped the trespass charge Wednesday night because the protesters did not violate the law. He says they were exercising their First Amendment rights.

Haley’s spokesman had no response.

Haley ordered the protesters to leave by 6 p.m. Nov. 16 and restricted the protests to daylight hours. But protesters who challenged her curfew five days later were not arrested. A circuit judge then issued a temporary restraining order allowing the around-the-clock occupation to continue.