GOP Convention Protesters Acquitted

PHILADELPHIA (AP) â€” Forty protesters arrested during the Republican National Convention for blocking a downtown intersection have been acquitted of criminal charges. <br><br>The protesters acquitted

Tuesday, November 28th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

PHILADELPHIA (AP) â€” Forty protesters arrested during the Republican National Convention for blocking a downtown intersection have been acquitted of criminal charges.

The protesters acquitted Monday were among 43 activists charged as a group with causing a traffic-snarling blockade at an intersection on Aug. 1, a day marked by protests throughout downtown Philadelphia. They had been charged with conspiracy, obstructing a highway and obstruction of justice.

Two protesters were convicted of obstructing a highway, a misdemeanor; another was convicted of a summary offense. They were fined and ordered to perform community service.

Of 391 people arrested in demonstrations near the July 31-Aug. 3 convention, about 300 were charged with misdemeanors and 40 with felonies. In more than half of the felonies, charges had already been reduced or dropped.