CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The U.S. government will pay $80,000 to a Texas couple arrested in Charleston, W. Va., during a 2004 appearance by President Bush.
The pair had refused to cover up their homemade T-shirts that featured anti-Bush slogans.
Nicole and Jeffrey Rank of Corpus Christi were removed from the July 4 rally at the West Virginia Capitol in handcuffs.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit alleging the White House has a formal policy of trying to hide dissenters from the media and the president.
ACLU of West Virginia Executive Director Andrew Schneider says from now on, public officials will think twice before ejecting peaceful protesters from public events.
An order closing the case was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Charleston.
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