A Yonkers pastor and civil rights leader spoke to News 12 Westchester Thursday for the first time since being cleared of criminal charges in a school yard fight.

The Reverend Darryl George, the pastor of the Messiah Baptist Church in Yonkers, was arrested in January and charged with felony assault, conspiracy and possession of a weapon for allegedly attacking a student outside Millburn High School in New Jersey.

George, however, says he was only protecting his son, who attends Millburn High School, from an angry mob of students. He says his son had previously faced racial threats from his peers.

"Those students who tried to do harm to my son did not represent the overall population of Millburn Short Hills, so I hold no animosity," George says.

A grand jury decided not to indict George and his older son. Charges against the younger son were dropped last week. Some have suggested that George should file a lawsuit against those who have falsely accused him, but he is reluctant to take that step at this time.

"At this point, I'm glad to be out of the criminal justice system as a defendant," George says.