Famed SC civil rights protesters have convictions erased

The convictions of nine South Carolina black men who integrated a whites-only lunch counter during the height of the civil rights movement were tossed out Wednesday during an emotional hearing before a packed courtroom.

"We cannot rewrite history, but we can right history," Judge Mark Hayes said as he made the ruling for the men known as the Friendship 9, and those in court clapped and cheered.

Prosecutor Kevin Brackett apologized to the men - eight of whom were in court. The ninth has died.

"Sometimes you just have to say you're sorry ... my heartfelt apologies for what happened in 1961," Brackett said.