SEATAC, Wash. — The City of SeaTac agreed to drop charges against dozens of protesters who blocked access to the airport for hours. It happened four months ago.
"We're very happy with the outcome,” said Alyson Mogannam-Martin, one of the 46 defendants. "Our main focus is to bring a ceasefire."
Mogannam-Martin was among the pro-Palestinian protesters at the airport on April 15. Demonstrators made a human barrier by connecting with PVC pipes and refusing to get off the ground. It went on for about three hours before police officers were able to break it up and make arrests. As a result about two dozen flights faced delays, mostly under 20 minutes.
Traveler Simone Sutton said she was caught in the chaos.
"I felt a hostage and I was very, very, very angry,” Sutton said back in April.
Allegations of disorderly conduct and failure to disperse led to a case against the 46 defendants.
The city decided to dismiss the charges on Tuesday. It is what defendant Katherine Wolf wanted.
"We were out there exercising our constitutional rights, and so we feel excited that we have these charges dismissed so that we can get back to the work,” Wolf said.
State Rep. Andrew Barkis disagrees with the decision.
"There are plenty of opportunities to peaceful protests," aid Rep. Barkis, R – 2nd District. "There are all the different channels that you can go to to express your first amendment rights. That does not include blocking people from their daily lives, travel, freeway."
"People have tried other alternatives," said Sade Smith, an attorney representing one of the defendants. "Our legislators are not responsive."
"You have to take other measures when you are not seeing traction,” Mogannam-Martin said.
The city says as part of the agreement the defendants must complete ten hours of community service or go three months with no new criminal violations. Additionally, they can only be on airport property for travel purposes until the case is resolved.