Anti-war rally at park peaceful

DEMONSTRATION HELD A WEEK AFTER PROTESTERS CLASHED WITH POLICE

Sunday, October 1, 2006

By Marcie Young
Charlotte Observer Staff Writer

CHARLOTTE — An afternoon rally held one week after police clashed with anti-war protesters uptown remained peaceful Saturday at Charlotte's Freedom Park.

Event organizers, including members of the Green Party and the Action Center for Justice, feared a repeat of last week's Human Rights Fest, where Charlotte-Mecklenburg police arrested six protesters at Trade and Tryon streets.

Police said last week's rally got out of control when protesters refused to follow orders, swore at officers and placed a burning newspaper near an officer's feet. Protesters said officers violated their First Amendment rights. At least one man was shocked with a Taser, and another protester, David Crane, said he suffered a broken rib and a punctured lung.
Organizers said Saturday's rally, which called for the impeachment of President Bush, attracted at least 50 more participants than last week's event, including some of those arrested.

Crane said he "wouldn't have missed this for the world."

Visible police presence was minimal Saturday, but C.W. McIver from the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department said plainclothes officers attended the event. He said the number of officers was higher than usual for such gatherings.

Jim Gronquist, an attorney for the Action Center for Justice, said he attended to observe police and protester actions.

"There's a disconnect for police between what's impolite and illegal speech," he said.

The Action Center for Justice will hold another anti-war rally at Trade and Tryon streets at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Planners said they tried to minimize confrontations Saturday by asking two punk rock bands not to use profanities during their performances, said Ken Davies, a Green Party organizer.

The first band violated the agreement, causing park officials to consider ending the event. After conversations with Davies, McIver decided to allow the second band to play but threatened to pull the sound if it happened again.


All content © THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER
and may not be republished without permission.