Excerpt:
The room was packed full of people who gathered to applaud an unlikely bunch: a group of men who had been convicted of misdemeanors less than 48 hours ago.
The men -- part of the "Irvine 11" found guilty of disrupting a speech by Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren—told those gathered at the Islamic Institute of Orange County of their activism and expressed gratitude for community support. At one point, the nine men stood to applause.
On Friday, a jury found the 10 Muslim students guilty after deliberating for two days. A judge sentenced the men to community service, probation time and fines. Charges against an 11th defendant will be dropped pending completion of community service.