They don't care. The purpose wasn't to charge them, since the powers-that-be already know that protesting isn't a crime.
The purpose was to get them off the scene. It doesn't matter that the charges are automatically dropped, what matters is that they drag the protesters away in that moment.
And to deter others thinking of protesting. "You can't do this, see?" Historically, that usually works, right? People just settle down and go home?
As long as there’s no consequences for this kind of Pinkerton shit, it’s only going to get worse.
Why isn't the very act of disturbing their protest by violence unconstitutional? (Edit: unless the protesters are infringing somebody's right to property ofc)
Dropped charges don’t necessarily mean that the records have been cleared. These 57 demonstrators may have an arrest on record for the rest of their lives. They’ll have to explain that while trying to rent a house, get a job, or any other number of things.
Their social credit got besmirched I guess. Why do employers or landlords even have access to this info?
Because it's a police state
Of course they were dropped - they were illegally arrested.
That's how you curb free speech.
You can beat the rap, but never the ride.