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Women’s Rights protestors arraigned following Capitol rally

Posted at 1:21 PM, Mar 05, 2012
and last updated 2012-03-05 17:57:58-05

RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - At least seven protestors arrested during a Women's Rights Rally at the Virginia State Capitol Saturday were arraigned Monday morning inside Manchester General District Court in Richmond, Virginia.

The protestors were officially charged with trespassing and unlawful assembly.

Protestor Muna Hijazi called the police presence at Saturday's rally an extreme show of force.

"It is a basic attack on our basic rights, it is trying to lay the foundation, one that is already being laid in this state and across the county, that is trying to strip us of our freedom of speech and lots of other constitutional amendments," Hijazi said. [CLICK: See pictures from Saturday's rally]

More than 30 people were arrested during the rally which was organized after the Virginia General Assembly passed a bill to require women undergo an ultrasound before getting an abortion. Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell is expected to sign the bill after he ordered specific changes be made before it reached his desk. [Read more]

The protestors arraigned today are due back in court on March 30.