Abortion clinics have long been a First Amendment battleground. Even stay-at-home orders haven't completely shut down demonstrations against them.
Police in Charlotte stepped in after a group of roughly 50 protesters gathered outside a clinic in violation of the state's stay-at-home order for the coronavirus.
It follows a similar protest in Greensboro. Seven people were charged last week with violating Guilford County's stay-at-home order and resisting a public officer while protesting an abortion clinic.
Gov. Roy Cooper's order prohibits mass gatherings of more than 10 people.
In Charlotte, a dozen people received citations when they refused to disperse, and eight of them were charged when they still refused to comply.
The charge is a low-grade misdemeanor, with no jail time for a first offense.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said it would keep emphasizing voluntary compliance with the order, but the department will enforce violations if people are unwilling.
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