Posted: Tuesday, Sep. 04, 2012
CHARLOTTE, N.C. Scuffles and pushing erupted as a group of about 50 protesters marched Tuesday night from the Occupy Charlotte encampment in Marshall Park, following a route that blocked traffic in uptown Charlotte earlier in the day.
The march began at 9:20 p.m. Most members of the group were dressed in black in the light rain and carried black banners saying they are protesting capitalism. Dozens of bicycle-riding police officers trailed them.
The police presence was initially light but grew to about 100 as the protesters passed the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Stonewall Street. Police allowed the group to march in the middle of the street and used roving roadblocks to control traffic.
The march ended abruptly near the corner of Stonewall and South Tryon streets, where police blocked the street. Police, lined six to seven deep, blocking the protesters from turning north onto Tryon and heading uptown.
Marchers chanted, “Let them go! Let them go!”
At about 9:45 pm, police pulled out billy clubs.
The marchers then changed their route, gave up their effort to turn north on Tryon, and instead continued west on Stonewall.
Protesters chanted “What’s the solution? Revolution!” and “Anti-capitalista!” They carried banners for the World Workers’ Party and Fight Imperialism Stand Together (FIST), but many appeared to be Occupy members.
Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/09/04/3503803/uptown-protest-turns-heated.html#storylink=cpy