BOSTON (AP) - The Latest on charges against some ’straight pride’ protesters (all times local):
11 p.m.
Boston’s district attorney has asked Massachusetts’ highest court to intervene in a dispute with a lower court judge over the prosecution of counterprotesters arrested during a “straight pride” parade in Boston last weekend.
Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins filed an emergency petition Wednesday asking the state’s Supreme Judicial Court to compel the lower court to accept her request not to prosecute some of the counterprotesters.
Rollins argues that Boston Municipal Court Judge Richard Sinnott overstepped his constitutional authority in refusing to recognize her office’s request.
Court spokespersons representing Sinnott and the high court didn’t respond to an email seeking comment late Wednesday.
Some 36 people were arrested following Saturday’s parade, which was meant to be a counterpoint to gay pride parades. It drew a few hundred participants but hundreds more counterprotesters.
8:24 a.m.
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A Massachusetts judge has decided to move forward with charges against several counter-protesters arrested during a so-called “straight pride” parade in Boston last weekend, despite prosecutors’ request to dismiss the cases.
Prosecutors in court Tuesday asked for dismissal of nonviolent charges against several people, most in exchange for community service. Judge Richard Sinnott denied requests to dismiss charges against seven of them. Prosecutors did not ask Sinnott to drop charges of assault or of violence against police.
Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins said the judge had overstepped his role, saying he wants to punish people for exercising their First Amendment right to protest.
In another courtroom, Judge Thomas Horgan ordered three men charged with assaulting police at the parade to “Stay out of Boston” while their cases are pending.
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