WASHINGTON – Author and civil rights activist Cornel West and 18 others arrested with him for protesting at the U.S. Supreme Court will not be prosecuted.

Prosecutors on Monday decided not to press charges against the group. They were arrested Sunday.

Demonstrating on the grounds of the court with signs is prohibited.

West was in Washington to attend Sunday’s dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the National Mall. He is the author of “Race Matters” and “Democracy Matters.”