Charges will be dropped against journalists who were arrested during protests at the Republican National Convention and cited for unlawful assembly, city officials said Friday.

Mayor Chris Coleman said the city attorney’s office recommended against prosecuting reporters for the misdemeanor charge.

“This decision reflects the values we have in St. Paul to protect and promote our First Amendment rights to freedom of the press,” Coleman said in a prepared statement.

The city doesn’t know yet how many cases the decision will affect, he said.

More than 800 people were arrested in St. Paul and Minneapolis during the convention. Journalists among them included Associated Press reporters Amy Forliti and Jon Krawczynski. City spokesman James Lockwood said charges against them will be dropped.