Charges Against Berkeley Protest Group Dropped

Felony and misdemeanor charges against 87 apartheid protesters in the sometimes violent April 3 demonstration at the University of California, Berkeley, have been dropped by the prosecution.

A variety of misdemeanor counts were still pending against 21 of 61 protesters arrested at another demonstration April 1, and against two men allegedly caught with a gasoline-filled bottle April 3.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Jeffrey Horner said he moved to drop the charges because a court order had been the basis of the arrests and that order was modified the day after the arrests.

Higbie said he expects charges to be brought against Bowers under a Penal code section that makes it a crime to draw, exhibit or use a firearm in the immediate presence of a police officer.