6 arrested at anti-war protest in Charlotte

News Observer
Posted: Sep 25, 2006

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A peace rally involving about 200 people ended with six arrests and a plan by police to review whether to allow the organizers to hold demonstrations in the future.

Police say the crowd was unruly at the Human Rights Fest held Saturday evening. But organizers said demonstrators were obeying the rules of their permit, and police were the ones who went out of control.

"The event was going great," said David Dixon, a coordinator of the Action Center for Justice, based in Charlotte. "It's unbelievable what happened, really."

The event promoted a number of causes including an end to war in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Gaza.

Dixon said one of the four bands featured at the rally was finishing its performance at about 11 p.m. when a police officer said everything needed to be shut down, though the event had a permit until midnight. When the officer insisted, Dixon agreed to stop the event.

"'I don't care. I got my boys coming,'" Dixon said the officer told him.

Dixon said swarms of police officers charged into the crowd and began to jump on people. He said some officers pointed guns at people's heads, and at least a couple of protesters were hit with Tasers.

Police responded to a noise complaint at 11:13 p.m. and had to call in officers from other parts of the city to help disperse the unruly crowd, Capt. Chuck Adkins said. He said a total of 18 officers were involved.

The six people arrested face misdemeanor charges that included disorderly conduct, public disturbance and resisting a public officer. Dixon said his organization will try to get the charges dismissed.

Adkins said police and the city will discuss whether to allow the group to receive permits for protests in the future, evaluating the organization, its history and the relationship between its leaders and the people who were arrested.

Dixon said the organization will continue as planned with a rally this weekend in Freedom Park calling for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney.