CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) -
Occupy Charlotte protesters reappeared Uptown late Friday night. Busloads of protesters continued to come in throughout the night and into Saturday.
The group is very social on Twitter. Saturday, protesters tweeted that the City of Charlotte had agreed that they may set up camp at Marshall Park for the duration of the Democratic National Convention.
Without such an agreement, the group would be in violation of the new camping ordinance passed by City officials.
Saturday afternoon, City officials told WBTV there was no agreement and the protesters had not been given permission to camp.
"We are non violent and not interested in property destruction. All we want to do is exercise our first amendment rights to peacefully assemble," Protestor Aaron Black said.
Commissioner Bill James tweeted today, "There are some serious legal issues related to the #cltcc decision not to enforce the camping ordinance."
Police kept a watchful eye over the group, at times outnumbering the protestors.
Many of these folks here took a bus up from Tampa to voice their concerns on a variety of issues.
"Our democracy is being sold to the highest bidder," Black said.
City officials said law enforcement officials are assessing the situation, and the goal is to have a safe and peaceful convention.
Protesters tweeted a picture Saturday of the new rules for the temporary campsite.
It includes "no drugs, no alcohol", "no sleeping in the welcome center", media check-in rules, photo policy, and the max capacity. You can see the full list of rules in the attached picture.
Dozens of other folks with the March on Wall Street South movement gathered at Area 15. The group held a Liberation Festival. They are prepared to march by the Bank of America headquarters, Wells Fargo, and Duke Energy to raise people's agenda on "jobs and justice to the banks and DNC."
"I see a lot of issues in our state that often go unaddressed by the main stream political parties," Volunteer Organizer for Wall Street South Zaina Alsous said. Alsous saying that the group's main message is it doesn't stop after the DNC. "Movements aren't created in an afternoon so we hope if you don't get to march with us tomorrow, you will join us, listen to the stories people are saying, why people are marching and we can move forward together."
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