Nearly 1,000 people marched through Charlotte's business district on Sunday, two days before the start of the Democratic National Convention in that city in protest of the influence of corporate money in politics. The crowd railed against the bailouts that big businesses received in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis and carried signs that read, "Banks got bailed out. We got sold out." The marchers planned to pass by Bank of America's corporate headquarters and a Wells Fargo office. Many of the activists said they were there to protest other concerns like the government's inaction on climate change and the human rights abuses. At least two people were arrested, Charlotte police said.
One protester, 23-year-old Anna Marie Wright, was arrested for violating a law by wearing a mask, according to police. Wright was arrested at 2:25 p.m. At the time of the arrest, she had a knife, police said.
Chris Stevens, 32, was also arrested for disorderly conduct, assault on a government official and resisting arrest in the 200 block of South College street. Stevens was drunk, CMPD police chief Rodney Monroe told reporter Dianne Gallagher, and was not part of the March on Wall Street South.
Another protester was transported by Medic to a local hospital, according to The Charlotte Observer. Authorities have not said why the protester was taken to the hospital.
The protest march was peaceful, but plenty of police on hand, you know, "just in case."
