CHARLOTTE — A federal trial is putting the focus back on protests surrounding the November 2025 Border Patrol operation in Charlotte.
Heather Morrow and William Stanley are charged with assaulting federal agents during Operation Charlotte’s Web. The joint trial began at the federal courthouse in Uptown Monday.
Federal agents arrested Heather Morrow in November. They say she grabbed an officer’s shoulders and tried jumping on his back, but video of the incident shows the only time her feet left the ground was when she was taken down by agents.
Attorneys argue the charges filed against Morrow should be dropped, and protesters agree. Several supporters have been outside the courthouse since 8:30 Monday morning.
Federal prosecutors did drop a felony charge against Morrow but charged her with new misdemeanors, including impeding, disrupting and obstructing access and the use of federal property.
Earlier this month, Morrow accused federal agents of losing video evidence that they say would have proved the incident did not happen on federal property, but the judge says that’s not enough to toss out the case.
“They were just exercising free speech, so it could happen to anyone,” Christa Lineberger, with the activist group Indivisible Charlotte, said. “When our constitution is not honored for one person then where will it stop?”
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William Stanley is also on trial for the same charges. He’s accused of punching an officer’s window.
Tune in to Eyewitness News at 5 p.m. to hear why protestors believe Morrow and Stanley were “targeted” for their actions.
This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.
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