With this kind of preparation and continuous provocation by the police, including racist taunts,[citation needed] the picketing longshoremen got in touch with ILA 1422A mechanics union and Locals 1771.
Then as the leadership went ahead to figure out what the intention was, the protesters threw rocks, bottles, and railroad ties at the police.
In October 2001, the case's prosecutor, South Carolina Attorney General Charlie Condon publicly compared the Charleston Five to the terrorists who had destroyed the twin towers and world trade center the month before.
The backlash from this comment was such that Condon soon removed himself as prosecutor and appointed 1st Circuit Solicitor, Walter Bailey as his replacement.
[1] With mounting worldwide protest and international solidarity for the Charleston 5, they were finally freed of all charges in November 2001, after one year of trial, throughout which they were kept under house arrest.