Many Charges Are Dismissed In G.O.P. Convention Protests the city of Philadelphia's criminal cases have been collapsing against many of the 391 people arrested last August as they gathered for protests and civil disobedience outside the Republican National Convention. Sixty-nine cases have been dismissed in the last two weeks as prosecutors and the police have failed to convince the courts that there was any evidence tying those arrested to crimes. In one mass trial, 38 of 43 cases were dismissed when the prosecution failed to prove misdemeanor charges by submitting videotapes of crowds of protesters. The court demanded specific testimony from arresting officers about witnessing each person's alleged wrongdoing.