CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) - A Virginia judge has dismissed charges against nine counterprotesters arrested during a Ku Klux Klan rally in Charlottesville.
The defendants, who appeared in court Monday, were among several people charged with obstructing free passage and failing to heed police commands to disperse.
Two other defendants pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and were ordered to perform 40 hours of community service. Three others had their cases continued.
About 50 members of the North Carolina-based Loyal White Knights came to Charlottesville on July 8 to protest the removal of a statue honoring Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. They were met by more than 1,000 protesters.
A month later, violence erupted between white nationalists and counterprotesters in Charlottesville. One counterprotester was killed, and two state troopers died when their helicopter crashed.
