KCMO City Council gives amnesty to nonviolent protesters arrested on municipal charges

KCMO City Council gives amnesty to nonviolent protesters arrested on municipal charges

PLAZA.KMBC 9’S MICHEAL MAHONEY HASMORE FROM CITY HALL.MICHEAL: WE ARE RIGHT OUTSIDECITY HALL CHAMBERS RIGHT NOW.HALEY, THIS WAS NEVER REALLY INDOUBT.IT WAS GOING TO PASS EASILY.THE FINAL VOTE WAS 9-2.THE ORDINANCE DISMISSES CHARGESFOR ABOUT 200 NONVIOLENTPROTESTERS WHO WERE ARRESTED BYPOLICE ON THE PLAZA, AND ACOUPLE OF OTHER SPOTS.MANY FACED CHARGES OF FAILING TOCOMPLY WITH A POLICE ORDER.OFTEN, THE ORDER WAS TO STAY OUTOF THE STREETS.PROTESTERS FACING MORE SERIOUSCHARGES FOR THINGS LIKERESISTING ARREST, DESTROYING ORDAMAGING PROPERTY, WERE NOTCOVERED UNDER THIS ORDINANCE.WHEN WE GET IT WRONG, WE HAVETO ADMIT WE GET IT WRONG.HAD THEY NOT MADE SOME WRONGDECISIONS, THESE CASES WOULD NOTHAVE BEEN THROWN OUT.MICHEAL: SO THE CITY COUNCIL AFEW MOMENTS AGO PASSING ANORDINANCE TO DISMISS CHARGESAGAINST 200 NONVIOLENTPROTESTERS OR SO WHO WEREARRESTED ON THE PLAZA I POLICEEND IN OTHER PARTS AROUND THECITY.THIS IS PROBABLY NOT OVER.A COUPLE OF LAWYERS TELL ME THEYEXPECT LAWSUITS OVER IMPROPER