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‘99 Percent Power’ Targets Bank of America — 4 Arrested for Storming Shareholder Meeting

Four protesters were arrested Wednesday as they tried to force their way into the annual Bank of America shareholders’ meeting in Charlotte, and police used a new ordinance to declare the gathering an “extraordinary event” subject to special restrictions.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Major Jeff Estes said four men were charged with crossing a police line, a misdemeanor.

The incident is the result of a nationwide protest organized by a group that calls itself “99 Percent Power,” according to Reuters.

“From May 6 to 9, people from across the country and world will be converging on Charlotte, North Carolina, home of Bank of America, which will be staging its annual shareholder meeting, to demand an end to practices that are bankrupting our economy and wrecking our climate,” Brigid Flaherty writes for Occupy.com.

“Homeowners, students, immigrants, environmentalists, workers, women’s groups and peace activists will be standing up for justice Wednesday in the Wall Street of the South, bringing their stories, hearts and communities to the fight against Bank of America for its criminal role in home foreclosures, job loss and unemployment, corporate control of democracy and the financing of environmental degradation,” she adds.

And although the call to arms didn’t result in a 1,000+ person rally (as organizers predicted), an estimated 500 to 750 protesters showed up. Hundreds of protesters gathered on the streets as dozens of police officers worked to contain the crowd.

Johnny Rosa of Framingham, Mass., was one of those arrested. Before being taken into custody, Rosa said his home had been foreclosed. He wanted to tell shareholders the foreclosure was wrong because he wanted to make payments.

“The scene turned tense during the arrests as some members of the crowd briefly chanted ‘murderers, cops, pigs,’” writes the Charlotte Observer’s Andrew Dunn, Cleve R. Wootson and Ely Portillo. “They also chanted ”no justice, no peace.”

As mentioned in the above, Charlotte police used a new ordinance allowing the city to declare public gatherings as extraordinary events. That allowed authorities to designate areas where people aren’t allowed to carry backpacks, magic markers and other items.

The measures were adopted in advance of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte. However, protesters came prepared for the new police regulation:

…the city’s declaration that the BoA protest on May 9 is an “extraordinary event” by no means takes us off course. On the contrary, the state’s opposition to our constitutional right to peaceful assembly, and its collusion with the banks toward that end, makes our resolve all the stronger. We will be here, in Charlotte, in massive numbers, unflinching in our demand for economic, racial and environmental justice. Following in the legacy of our movement sisters and brothers who have come before us, we shall not be moved.

Major Estes says police didn’t confiscate any of those materials at the demonstration.

“There’s been no property damage, and nobody was injured,” Estes said, according to the Charlotte Observer.  “We’re pleased with the outcome.”

Front page photo source: Melissa Melvin-Rodrigue/Charlotte Observer

The Associated Press contributed to this story. This story has been updated.

Comments (56)

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  • Ghandi was a Republican
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 5:27pm

    Why don’t they just take their money out of the bank? Maybe they could invest it in shares and change the banks way the bank operates. Don’t they teach these kids anything in school?

    Report Post » Ghandi was a Republican  
    • CulperGang
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 10:58am

      The way the bank operates???? You are assuming that they operate fair and square. Let me EDUCATE YOU. You sign up for lets say credit card. That is a CONTRACT between YOU and the BANK. Read the fine print, “WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE THE TERMS ANYTIME.”
      What does that mean to you??? YOU are obligated to everything THEY want. THEY are NOT obligated to anything of the terms you sign in with, they just change it.

      Why do they get away with this?? THEY closed down your small banks via the politicians and they MONOLOPIZE the Banking system and your society.

      Report Post » CulperGang  
    • Meechie
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:32am

      If you don’t want to agree to those terms….then DONT sign the agreement.

      Report Post »  
    • atechgeek
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:39am

      CulperGang … you completely missed the point Ghandi was making. Think broader. :-)

      Report Post »  
    • adrefs
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 1:23pm

      Exactly!! Don’t like the bank then cut up your credit cards, throw away your ATM card (just not in front of another Occupier of course!). These people are dumber than dirt.

      And by the way, your signs are full of typo’s you fools!!! It’s .99%! The rest of us are laughing at you!!!!

      Report Post »  
  • Unix
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 4:33pm

    In other words, all of the fringe groups that represent the moral depravity and social decay must meet up to fight the power of the banks. I laugh at their tactics and their words, they are meaningless, carry on MacBeth, got nothing for ya but disdain! Your Communist aims will be defeated in the end, you’ve shown your true Marxist colors, and true American Patriots don’t like them…GET the heck out of my country if you don’t like it!!

    Report Post » Unix  
    • CulperGang
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:12am

      Communist? Here is a true story: NJ Att.General fines Auto Dealer for selling car made out of three different cars. Auto dealer forced to give back down payment.Buyer gives car back. At this point the buyer already paid $1,200 to the bank in monthly payment. Calls PNC Bank,”Here’s proof that I have been scammed please return my money.” PNC Bank flatly stated. NO!! Call the Feds..OCC(supposedly oversees the banks. NOT) at the time. Sorry can’t help you. Sue the bank at your expense. $200 hour lawyer to get back $1,200 BECAUSE THE ROTTEN LOW LIFES AT PNC BANK LITERALLY REFUSED TO GIVE THE MONEY BACK.
      The Banks operate like LOANSHARKS and PREDATORS. Even lawyers find it hard to read or understand their terms, which they change at the drop of the hat.
      Remember SOCIETY cannot operate without them so everyone is at their twisted warpped shylock dictatums.
      THESE People have probably been scammed. This is righteous indignation.

      Report Post » CulperGang  
    • Meechie
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 11:34am

      I operate just fine without credit cards. Once again, if you dont like the terms then dont sign the contract.

      Report Post »  
    • atechgeek
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 12:12pm

      @Meechie : Dead on !! I also operate without credit cards .. also no debt. The only way to go. Credit Cards in my opinion are evil and therefor I do not use them. Simple .. take responsibility for YOUR actions and the markets will dictate which banks stay in business .. until our corrupt government steps in and bails them out .. now we have to replace our representatives and president. The absolute worst think Osama could have done .. is bail out the banks. Anybody but Obama : 2012

      Report Post »  
    • adrefs
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 1:33pm

      CULPERBANG – WOW! You are so clueless it’s hard to even wrap my head around this! The fight is not with the bank! The car buyer is owed money from the dealer, not the bank. The money needs to be paid back and then the note needs to be satisfied. They got the money from the bank and gave it to the dealer, then began making payments to the bank on that debt. If the dealer then turns out to be fraudulent how is that the banks fault? They loaned out money with the expectation of being repaid, with interest I might add (ooh, how evil!). If YOUR deal goes sour it’s not THEIR fault! But in your world the bank needs to loan money out, NOT get paid back and then give out even more money, because of what again????….
      It’s insane, nonsensical garbage and antics like this that causes the rest of us, not your .99% group of fools, to laugh at you.

      Report Post »  
  • johnrussell
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 3:53pm

    The big banks and their attitudes is what set in motion, all the small Independent banks, throughout the United States! We fight back, when we bank with the small banks and invest in our community banks!

    Report Post »  
    • G-WHIZ
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 12:47pm

      MAKE SURE that the small-bank is not owned by a large conglomerate-bank. My mother had three $90,000-CD’s, each, in what she thought were small banks. She died, and I found out [NBD] OWNED ALL THREE!!!

      Report Post »  
  • barber2
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 3:40pm

    Beware of the latest mortgage Democrat boondoggle : the Home AFFORDABLE Refinance Program ( whenever you see the word AFFORDABLE written into a Democrat program , you know that fraud and Big Lies are guaranteed ! Remember the Affordable Housing Act ? And how about that Affordable HealthCare Act ?? Ho. Ho. ) Apparently Obama is pushing for refinancing underwater loans whose loans aren’t backed by Fannie and Freddie ! Puts the banks into a bind because they are fewer banks holding loans, the pressure to refinance is on , and at the same time , the government is also forcing banks to repurchase bad loans from mortgage giants Fannie and Freddie ! In other words, the Obama Far Left Democrats have also declared a War on Banks as part of their overall War on Capitalism ! Just think, our own White House is at war with our economic system ! Doesn’t that sound a tad ” unusual?” Hmmm. What else might one call that ???

    Report Post »  
  • lukerw
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 3:00pm

    I am caught between a Rock and a Crazy place on this: BOA is a Lib supporting Obama… yet an OWS-Lib attack it gives Radicals more Power… and Banks need to exist to make Loans!

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • Sue Dohnim
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 3:19pm

      BOA is a mercenary with heavy lobbying and has switched to funding Romney. But yes, most of these Big Banks are corrupt forms of Corporatism (neofascism) that were bailed out with taxpayer money.

      They should have been left to to fend for themselves.

      But, these people entered contracts and didn’t pay..

      The way I see it,, two drunks fighting… BOTH are idiots. I don’t support either one.

      Report Post » Sue Dohnim  
    • Taquoshi
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 3:25pm

      Like you, Luke, I intensely dislike BoA, but I don’t think the Occupiers have the right to try to force their way into a Board meeting.

      I am happy to share my negative feelings and stories about BoA with anyone who will listen, but the Occupiers do not speak for me.

      Report Post » Taquoshi  
  • Constructionist
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:58pm

    A recent update to this story indicates that it was an honest misunderstanding. The hippie protesters mistook the ‘shareholder’ meeting as a meeting of people who were ‘holding’ and willing to ‘share’.

    Report Post » Constructionist  
    • barber2
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 3:27pm

      Don’t believe it. Read in the WSJ that a union front group called Change to Win is targeting a health insurance shareholders meeting to demand that shareholders vote against board members who had supported ALEC. The next part of the Democrat’s War on Capitalism is to disrupt shareholders meetings. These guys are “ organized” and aiming to “change” ( code word for Marxism ) our previously capitalist system !

      Report Post »  
  • paperpushermj
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:33pm

    The Women being interviewed “Doesn’t have a Clue” does she?

    Report Post » paperpushermj  
  • infortheride
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:31pm

    Add your comments

    Report Post »  
  • infortheride
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:26pm

    AHH, the true Liberal tolerance in full view.

    Report Post »  
  • barber2
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:18pm

    This is just another part of the Obama Democrats War on Capitalism. Remember the ALEC deal from 2 weeks ago ? Just more of the same. Intimidating, bullying, smearing , mocking, bull horns, drums, Occupying public space, storming meetings. Just the usual mob violence that we have come to expect from bullies, from union thugs, from storm trooper types, and from the anarchists. Now all embraced within the loving arms of our New Far Left ( dare we call them Marxists ??) American Democrat Party. Oh, Fidel, Hugo, Morales and Karl must be thrilled. The average, patriotic, traditional American – not.

    Report Post »  
  • PPMStudios
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:55pm

    The “99 percent” rock!!

    Thanks to the voters in North Carolina…. It isn’t just the rich who vote…

    Report Post » PPMStudios  
    • barber2
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:27pm

      Still trying to figure out what these jerks ” 99% ” figure really represents ! Maybe 99% of them have “Rocks in their heads ?” Or 99% of them are bullies who trash other right to free speech and association ? Or 99% of them were brainwashed by All Democratic zombies. Mr. Pete and Mr. Repeat. MIC check. Theater of the Absurd Players. ) Can’t wait to cancel this “ Dancing with the Anarchists and Bullies ” show in November .

      Report Post »  
    • barber2
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 3:23pm

      Correction: 99% were brainwashed by their Marxist professors. All are Democrat zombies..

      Report Post »  
    • adrefs
      Posted on May 10, 2012 at 1:37pm

      Again, please people! Watch your punctuation won’t you? It’s .99%!

      Please pay attention.

      Report Post »  
  • Individualism
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:32pm

    I support their effort to take out those parasites who steal our money and items.

    Report Post » Individualism  
  • okaaay
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:28pm

    I don’t agree in any way with these protesters and their way of doing it.
    BUT I have to say that BOA is corrupt and has been illegally dealing with its customers for quite awhile. They were recently just fined for their behavior and have had to set up an advocate program for individuals who couldn’t get any service, even when they qualified financially. They are a corrupt bank!
    Just last week we helped a woman contact an advocate because they are seizing her home and won’t even discuss it with her. The week before, another family. And for the last 3 years we‘ve been trying to help an elderly woman refinance her home through Obama’s program that you can only apply through guess who? BOA. And they continually denied her over forms “lost” or “we never got those” or “ now you need to work with this department”, the goal being to deny her refinance even though she qualified for the program. Corrupt. Corrupt. Corrupt. I’m almost tempted to carry a banner with them.

    Report Post »  
    • kaydeebeau
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:44pm

      Did it ever occur to you that “Obama’s program” is corruption in and of itslelf? You do realize that BoA and Obama are in on all this together right? That is the courrpution you mean – Obama and his cronies? right?

      Report Post » kaydeebeau  
  • jackact
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:18pm

    If these gainfully unemployed bums spent as much energy seeking employment then they would be shareholders (in a bank that should have been allowed to fail) like us!
    :)

    Report Post »  
    • marhee9
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:48pm

      Exactly! The unions seem not even to care the damage they are doing to themselves by aligning themselves with these idiots. I loved the Sean Hannity interview where he told the OWS loser to get out and get a job. That was a classic interview in so many different ways.
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R83lXxK_8SI

      Report Post »  
  • Sue Dohnim
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:04pm

    “SHOW ME WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE”

    “THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE”

    Well here it is, and it isn’t nice…

    Amazing Video,,,, S*o*v*i*e*t S*t*o*r*y
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TR_az6__Zo

    Report Post » Sue Dohnim  
  • blackyb
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:59pm

    Many in America are fat and lazy or skinny and lazy. The fat ones have to sit in school all day long on their azzes, then come home and sit on game boys. School is what is making people fat. Those teachers cannot control the students, so let them learn in environments where they can be off their azzes part of the time and learn, then sit in front of computers to take tests, and learn some more. We do not need schools or teachers. Most of them are leeches who just want to get through the day.

    Report Post » blackyb  
  • sparkspeaks
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:24pm

    I bet Dems are second thinking having the convention in NC now, huh? LOL

    Report Post » sparkspeaks  
  • IMCHRISTIAN
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:07pm

    I wanted to make a payment is not making a payment. When in hard times you may have to get out and get an extra job instead of breaking the law. There is no free lunch we all have to move if jobs aren‘t available in the area but someone else shouldn’t have to pay your bills forever.

    We will get through these tough times just hang in there and do what is right and not what evil is whispering your ears.

    Report Post »  
  • Smokey_Bojangles
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:06pm

    They just wanted to leave a Deposit.A Fecal Deposit.After Bank of Obama denied McMillan Group International an account,I hope they have to climb over HUGE piles of Fecal matter until they go out of Business.

    Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
  • 75cents
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:51am

    If Mr. Rosa is correct and if no one at the bank wanted to listen to him then something should have and should happen to resolve his plight. Wrong is wrong ! If this was his last resort then his is brave .

    If he is wrong then the bank should tell him politley and move on . If he is lying and just causing mischief he should be arrested .

    Report Post » 75cents  
    • TexasHunter
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 12:17pm

      Your about 75 cents short of a dollar. There is a big difference in wanting to make payments on his house and ACTUALLY making payments on his house. Now he is just a P offed lib because they took it away from him.

      Report Post » TexasHunter  
    • Jaycen
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:58pm

      If the meeting is private, uninvited people should be forcibly removed. If the meeting isn’t private, the cops should stay out of it unless and until someone assaults someone else.

      Report Post » Jaycen  
  • Sue Dohnim
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:50am

    Could this be..

    SEIU pays $4000 per month rent for Occupy DC headquarters…

    http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc-news/2012/05/union-obama-ties-rents-offices-occupy-dc/588636

    Report Post » Sue Dohnim  
    • barber2
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 3:18pm

      Would love to have all of the dots connected : The Adbusters in Canada..SEIU.. and who else ????

      Report Post »  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:50am

    …
    I knew when the DNC chose Charlotte N.C. to hold their rally, that the “occupy” freaks would congregate there.
    It hurts business owners’ profits, when the streets in front of their businesses are blocked and customers can’t get in. Why does any city put up with this crap?

    Report Post »  
    • barber2
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 3:14pm

      Democrats must “control” the place. They are like termites who have quietly undermined and gnawed away our capitalist system and our individual freedoms while the average citizen was busy just earning a living while these guys, like Obama, were out ” organizing communities.“ Organizing and ”change” are the new code words for the Marxism our Obama / International Lefty Democrats are installing.

      Report Post »  
  • RJJinGadsden
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:42am

    AT least North Carolina is showing some balls when it comes to dealing with certain people and disorganized Bozos.

    Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:41am

    …
    A lot of the home foreclosures are the homeowners’ fault. They bought homes way out of their price range. Homes they couldn’t possibly afford to make payments on for thirty years.

    I personally know people who have done this. They have gotten Government hand outs to assist with the down payments, and some have gotten assistance to lower their interest rates and payments. They don’t live within their means.

    I live within my means. That’s why I have a crappier, cheaper, smaller home, than all my relatives, friends, and neighbors. Mine is not fancy, but it’s paid for.
    I paid for it out of my own pocket, without any taxpayers’ hard earned money. I doubled up on the payments and had it paid for in eight years. I did without a whole lot of things, and made major sacrifices, in order to get my home paid for quickly.

    Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:08pm

      Kudos sir. I agree with your assessment.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • Sue Dohnim
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 1:19pm

      The problem is, these people who were not responsible are getting rewarded for their bad behaviour and those that are responsible, payed their mortgage on time are punished with a lower home value and their taxes going to the irresponsible via subsidies.

      Socialism rewards bad behaviour and punishes the good,, this is why Socialism fails, it subverts and demoralized the good and productive.

      Everyone is made equal, no matter what your character.

      Report Post » Sue Dohnim  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:25am

    And so the pressure will commence to be ratched up step by step, and the local level of authorities given more and more harsh mandates to stop the protesters until Obama steps in to ‘end the madness’ on his terms — tyranny.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Fubared
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:35am

      Domestic terrorism and they will get tresspass fines and released to do it again. Like to see the left eating their own though.

      Report Post »  
    • 1TrueOne55
      Posted on May 9, 2012 at 11:37am

      And now it begins. A LONG HOT SUMMER!

      Report Post » 1TrueOne55  
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