The Associated Press 

A legal battle over attempts by Rhode Island’s second-largest city to ban panhandling is coming to a close with the dismissal of charges against six advocates for the homeless.

They were ticketed four years ago for protesting the ordinance that opponents said was unconstitutional.

The Rhode Island Homeless Bill of Rights Defense Committee said the cases against the advocates charged in Cranston in 2017 will be officially dismissed during a court hearing on Thursday.

The homeless advocates and the ACLU said the ordinance was a violation of the First Amendment and challenged it in court.

A spokesperson for the mayor confirmed that the charges were being dismissed but had no further comment.