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Groups Plan Protests at Democratic Convention in Charlotte

Posted byBy Nick Chiles | Published on: CommentsComments (0)

It wouldn’t be the Democratic National Convention without a healthy menu of public protest.

When the Democrats gather in Charlotte this week, a long list of protestors have applied to have their voices heard, rallying about issues ranging from economic inequality to global warming.

It will kick off on Sunday with the March of Wall Street South, focused on economic inequality and social injustice. Some of the groups are supporters of Obama, others oppose some of his policies. According to the Associated Press, the groups include:

— Occupy Wall Street. The nationwide movement has issued a call for protesters to come to Charlotte—a city where an Occupy Charlotte tent city was disbanded last winter.

— AFL-CIO. Since North Carolina has the lowest percentage of unionized workers in the United States, the country’s largest labor union is planning a massive canvassing effort this fall in all 50 states to turn out voters for Obama.

— Southern Workers Assembly. A coalition of labor groups, this group plans a major presence to draw attention to the impact of anti-union laws in the South.

— Farm Labor Organizing Committee. The farm workers’ union will highlight issues facing farm workers and other North Carolina workers.

— No Papers No Fear. A coalition of immigrant rights’ advocates, it has organized UndocuBus—a group of 40 undocumented people that has been traveling by bus from Arizona to Charlotte—making stops along the way to highlight problems facing the immigrant community.

— Greenpeace. The international environmental group has been critical of Charlotte-based Duke Energy and its CEO Jim Rogers, saying Duke’s coal fired plants have contributed to global warming.

— North Carolina Values Coalition. This anti-abortion group that supports North Carolina’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage is holding a Rally for Marriage and Religious Liberty on Thursday — the same day President Barack Obama makes his acceptance speech at Bank of America Stadium.

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