DA Drops Charges Against One Stephon Clark Demonstrator, But Still Pursuing Case Against Second

The two Sacramento Black Lives Matter demonstrators arrested during protests outside the district attorney's office last month were in court on Wednesday. But only one of them had a hearing.

Melisa Price and Ebony Harper were arrested on April 12 on charges for “remaining present at a place of a riot” and resisting arrest. They're the only two activists facing charges for demonstrating during Clark protests since his fatal shooting on March 18.

But Price says when she arrived at the courthouse, she discovered her charges had been dropped. "I looked for my name on the chart, it wasn't there,” she said, “and then a police officer came and told me that they declined to file charges but they have a year to change their mind."

Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Grippi says he dropped the charges because Price didn't have a prior criminal record and cooperated with officers during the arrest process.

Harper, however, still faces the two misdemeanors. Harper is trans and her lawyer, Tiffani Sharp, says officers initially booked her with men at the jail last month.

"She was booked under the incorrect name — booked under her birth name, which has been legally changed, which did create a lot of issues when she was booked into the male facilities," Sharp said.

Harper's arraignment will continue on June 4.