A judge dismissed the charge against a UNC student arrested for disturbing the peace after participating in a protest against a speech from former U.S. Representative Tom Tancredo in April.

Haley Koch, a senior at UNC , walked out of court and was greeted with congratulations from friends and family late Monday afternoon.

"I'm really excited and I think this has been a real victory for the rights of the students and community member and all of us to protest and have our voices heard on really important issues," Koch said.

Back in April, dozens of UNC students and community members protested against Tancredo's speech saying he was giving a hate speech. The protesters disrupted by chanting loudly and unrolling a large banner in front of him so he could not talk above the noise and distractions. Police intervened to get the rowdy crowd out of the room using pepper spray and a taser. Koch was later taken into custody.

In court Monday, Koch's attorney argued his client willingly complied with police after they told her to leave and that she was within her First Amendment right to protest in the first place.

But the state argued the case was not a First Amendment issue. Instead, Assistant District Attorney Jeff Neiman said it was clear in home video taken of the protest that Koch was guilty of disturbing the peace regardless of what she said.

Meantime, Koch says the judge's decision Monday sets an example for the community.

"I think this is crucial to the climate of campus activism and for broader struggles in Chapel Hill and beyond for people to know that they can make their voices heard and they won't have to suffer consequences needlessly," said Koch.

NBC 17 News contacted the Youth For Western Civilization who sponsored Tancredo's speech for comment, but our phone was not immediately returned.