CHARLOTTE, N.C. About 100 protesters blocked several uptown Charlotte streets late Monday in an impromptu march that signaled the first significant disturbance of the Democratic National Convention.
One member of the group called it a “test” of police, who vastly outnumbered the marchers.
Among the officers following the march was Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Rodney Monroe, who walked at the back of the group.
“We’re trying to protect our neighborhoods,” he told the Observer.
“This is what a police state looks like!” they yelled. “Police everywhere, justice nowhere!”
At times they broke into obscenities: “—— the police!” and “—— the DNC!”
One woman stood facing a line of officers and pulled a bandana up over her mouth and nose. During Sunday’s March on Wall Street South, a protester was arrested for wearing a scarf over her face and carrying a concealed knife, police said. One other person was also arrested Sunday.But late Monday, police didn’t react to obscenities or taunts from protesters, apparently determined to avoid any direct confrontations.
“This isn’t a protest,” one member of the group said. “This is an articulation of the boundaries of the police state.”
“This is a test march,” said Shangry Gorecki, 32, of Los Angeles. “We want to see how they play.”
“We made our point,” Estrella said as he walked away. “We took the streets.”
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/09/04/3501980/monday-night-protest-blocks-uptown.html#storylink=cpy