September 7 police brutality against longshore union workers at EGT in Longview. Dawn Des Brisay photo

The charges discussed today stemmed from a September 7, 2011 Free Speech demonstration at which police attacked workers for standing up for good jobs. Dawn Des Brisay photo.

A Cowlitz County District Court judge is mulling a Longshore union request to dismiss criminal trespassing charges filed against several dozen dockworkers and their supporters.

Union lawyers told Judge Ron Marshall on Wednesday that protesters were exercising their First Amendment rights to assemble on public, port-owned property and that port officials didn’t clearly identify which areas were off-limits.

Marshall said he’s not sure the prosecution has sufficient evidence to prove criminal charges. He did not say when he will rule.

Read the full Associated Press article here