S.C. Raised Confederate Flag in '61 to Insult 9 Black Protesters—Now Took It Down to Honor 9 Slain

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/sc-raised-confederate-flag-61-insult-9-black-protesters-now-took-it-down-honor-9

The students spent 30 days doing hard labor at the York County Prison Farm, and other demonstrators followed their example at white-only businesses throughout the south.

A York County judge tossed out the trespassing convictions against the former students – eight of whom are still living – on Jan. 28, 2015, saying the men, now in their 70s, should never have been charged in the first place.

“We cannot rewrite history, but we can right history,” said Judge John C. Hayes III. “Now, as to the Friendship Nine, is the time and opportunity to do so. Now is the time to recognize that justice is not temporal, but is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.”