A Municipal Court judge Wednesday convicted five protesters and acquitted two others arrested Dec. 20 in the City Council chamber before the council voted to demolish New Orleans' four largest public housing developments.The seven defendants on trial before Judge Sean Early were among 10 people handcuffed after they loudly objected to the refusal by Civil Sheriff's Office deputies to let additional spectators into the Dec. 20 meeting, though seats were available.
That was followed by a melee during which at least two protesters were Tasered by police, who also dispersed pepper spray into the throng outside City Hall.
Right off the bat in the five-hour trial, Early dismissed the case against Robin Morris, who was charged with violating a city ordinance that makes it illegal to wear a mask on any day that isn't Mardi Gras. Loyola University Law Clinic attorney Judson Mitchell, who represented all seven defendants, said that Morris had raised his sweatshirt to avoid inhaling pepper gas.
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