RALEIGH (AP) — A judge has dismissed one of the three charges against North Carolina NAACP President William Barber and 11 others facing trial for protesting at the state legislature.
Wake County Judge Joy Hamilton ruled Wednesday the state had not presented enough evidence to support the charge that the protesters failed to disperse after an order by legislative Police Chief Jeff Weaver that they were engaging in an illegal assembly last April.
Hamilton agreed with defense lawyers that Weaver did not have evidence that the protesters were engaging in disorderly conduct.
Hamilton let the trial proceed on charges of second degree trespassing and violating the building rules at the legislature by disturbing the elected officials by singing and chanting.
Closing arguments began at noon. More than 930 people were arrested this year.