The Asheville Citizen-Times reported that Thursday's decision to drop charges comes a day after three co-defendants were found not guilty of second-degree trespassing.

 

The eight were arrested May 11 at the Buncombe County Register of Deeds office after same-sex couples repeatedly applied for marriage licenses and were rejected.

 

Their protest came two days after President Barack Obama publicly endorsed same-sex marriage, and three days after North Carolina voters overwhelmingly passed a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as solely between a man and a woman.