Hearing set for eight Occupy members arrested in Comcast sit-in

Members of the Occupy Philadelphia movement will be occupying a city courtroom Monday to face trespassing charges.

Nine Occupy protesters were arrested in November as part of a demonstration in the lobby of the Comcast building.

Eight have chosen to go to before a judge rather than submit to a program of fines and community service.

Dusty Hinz says he and others want a trial to stand up for what they believe in.

“Basically that is what Philadelphia offers as its own little form of a plea deal,” Hinz said. “There was a core group of us that decided ‘no, we’re going to fight this, we don’t think we committed a crime, and we don’t think we’re guilty.’ So we’re going to take it to trial, we’re going to do what we’ve got to do, and that’s what that comes down to.”

They are charged with refusing to disperse when ordered by police.

This disclosure, WHYY’s content partner NBC10 is owned by Comcast.