Judge dismisses charges against mall protest organizers

Published 10:05 am Wednesday, November 11, 2015

MINNEAPOLIS — A Minnesota judge Tuesday dismissed charges against organizers of a “Black Lives Matter” protest that drew thousands of demonstrators to the Mall of America.

The protest last December disrupted Christmas shopping at the privately owned venue. But Hennepin County Chief Judge Peter Cahill ruled that it was peaceful and “not subversive.”

Organizers of the protest had faced misdemeanor charges of aiding and abetting trespass, aiding and abetting unlawful assembly, and aiding and abetting disorderly conduct.

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In a 137-page decision, Cahill dismissed all charges against the 11 organizers, but left in place trespass charges against some individual participants.