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The Democratic National Convention was held in Charlotte Sept. 4-6, 2012. WFAE's comprehensive coverage of the event is found here.

Protests: Diverse, Energetic And Smaller Than Expected

Several hundred protesters marched in Charlotte Sunday afternoon in advance of the Democratic National Convention. The march attracted diverse groups upset with both political parties, but far fewer people than what organizers predicted.

The event was billed as the March on Wall Street South. Organizers predicted several thousand people. Police braced for possibly the biggest protest in Charlotte history.

That didn’t happen. Charlotte Police Chief Rodney Monroe estimates about 800 protesters turned out.
One of them was Erick Verlo of Colorado Springs, Colorado. He held a banner that said “Boycott the Vote.”
“That’s right. We don’t have any choices. We have two corporate parties, there are not real choices. The only way to make a statement is to not vote,” Verlo said.  “Voting for the lesser of two evils shows you’re just buying into the system.”

Many protesters were from outside the state. Argelia Barajs came up with a group from Georgia. She says she’s been in this country illegally for 17 years. She wants that to change. She wants a path to citizenship.

“We need an opportunity, you know…We have many people who good workers, who report to this country, and we want an opportunity.”

The march included a stop at Bank of America headquarters to demand a moratorium on foreclosures. 

Greg Collard served as news director from 2008 to 2023. He served as WFAE's executive editor in 2023. He came to WFAE from West Virginia Public Broadcasting. In his eight years there, Greg had roles as a reporter, editor and producer. He was the executive producer of a television news magazine and news director for radio and television when he decided to head south for Charlotte.