Council Approves New Protest Restrictions

Charlotte City Council voted 10-1 Tuesday night in favor of new rules that change how protestors can demonstrate in the city. The rules are aimed at the Democratic National Convention. From the Charlotte Observer: The vote was met with shouts of "Shame!" from a packed council chamber, which prompted most of the council and Mayor Anthony Foxx to temporarily leave the dais. Protesters upset at the vote continued to shout chants, such as "Evict us, we multiply ... Occupy will never die," in the lobby of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center. The new rules will also make it illegal to camp on city property. City leaders have pushed the new rules as a means of getting city code up to snuff before the Democratic National Convention comes to town in September.