On Sun., Sept. 2, more than 2,500 people from throughout the South and across the U.S. filled the streets of Charlotte for the March on Wall Street South. The demonstration confronted the banks and corporations headquartered in Charlotte that are wreaking havoc on communities throughout the country, and raised a people’s agenda for jobs and justice as the Democratic National Convention convened here.

The March on Wall Street South has drawn significant media attention. Organizers estimate some 4,500 news reports have been filed, such as this CNBC interview from the floor of the DNC, as well as international coverage such as Mexico’s La Jornada, and France’s Le Monde.

Since Sunday’s march, the MOWSS coalition has continued to bring the voices of those most impacted by economic crises, war, cut-backs, deportations, and foreclosures to the Democrats & the world. The Coalition is supporting actions and events being developed by other groups, such as the Undocubus and Occupy Charlotte.

The expenses are piling up and we need your help to cover them. There are printing costs, sound and staging equipment, transportation, and much more. Help us continue in our work — make a much-needed contribution to the March on Wall Street South today!

Donate to support the March on Wall St. South!

Coalition to March on Wall St South

Building People’s Power at the Democratic National Convention

wallstsouth.org | @WallStSouth | 704-266-0362 | Like us on Facebook!

(more pictures below)

Braving extreme heat, more than 2,500 people from throughout the South and across the U.S. filled the streets of Charlotte on Sun., Sept. 2 for the March on Wall Street South. The demonstration confronted the banks and corporations headquartered in Charlotte that are wreaking havoc on communities throughout the country, and raised a people’s agenda for jobs and justice as the Democratic National Convention convenes here.

Participants came from cities throughout North Carolina, including Winston-Salem, Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, Rocky Mount, Greenville, Asheville, Fayetteville, Greensboro, and Wilmington. Many traveled hours from cities such as Baltimore, MD; Atlanta, GA; Greenville, MS; Washington, DC; Tampa, FL; Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, PA and New York, NY. A bus of more than 40 people, many of whom being foreclosed on by Bank of America and who are unemployed, spent 15 hours traveling from Detroit, MI.

The No Papers No Fear bus, which left Phoenix, AZ on July 29 with more than 40 undocumented people to arrive in Charlotte for the DNC, also joined the march with a spirited contingent against the deportations and criminalization of immigrant communities.

Also on the march were an unemployed workers contingent, a Southern labor contingent, a contingent against U.S. wars being waged at home and abroad, a no war no warming contingent, an LGBTQ contingent, and more.

“This was an historic demonstration that built an unprecedented level of unity between so many different groups and struggles on a grassroots level,” said Yen Alcala, an organizer with the Coalition to March on Wall Street South and Occupy Charlotte. “The March on Wall Street South showed what is possible when we unite, and pointed the finger at those who are responsible for the injustices being experienced by the 99% – the banks and corporations, and a political system that is controlled by the 1%. Building people’s power from the bottom up is the only solution to win jobs and justice for poor and working people.”

Along the march, demonstrators stopped in front of the Bank of America’s world headquarters and Duke Energy’s headquarters. At each stop, people who have been directly impacted by the practices of these banks and corporations –whose homes are being foreclosed on, who have massive amounts of student loan debt, and whose communities are being devastated by coal mining and energy rate hikes — spoke out and exposed these profit gauging institutions.

“The March on Wall Street South was a tremendous success,” said Elena Everett, another Coalition organizer. “Our message for jobs and justice was heard loud and clear by the bankers and the politicians of both parties. But this is just the beginning. We know that the only way that real change has ever been won is when people come together, get organized, and build social movements to raise demands to the powers that be. And that’s exactly what we’re doing — building a movement for jobs, education, healthcare, the environment, housing, and against wars, racism and bigotry, deportations, and jails.”

Throughout the remainder of the week, the MOWSS coalition will be supporting actions and events being developed by other groups, including the Undocubus and the Southern Workers Assembly on Sept. 3 at Wedgewood Baptist Church. The Coalition will also be mobilizing support for the reoccupation of Marshall Park being led by Occupy Charlotte.

Contact:
Yen Alcala, 714-727-8129, ancientwizdom@hotmail.com
Zaina Alsous, 919-757-1031, zaina.alsous@gmail.com
Ben Carroll, 919-604-8167, press@wallstsouth.org

The Coalition to March on Wall Street South stands in solidarity with Occupy Charlotte and the occupation of Marshall Park and supports Occupy Charlotte’s statement, which follows:

“Occupy Charlotte, NC, is calling for support of our peaceful Occupation of Marshall Park in the Wall Street of the South. During the Democratic National Convention our voices will be heard. Hundreds from across the country are already here. Thousands are on their way.  Come and join us! This is the hour! This is the moment!

Any repression of this Occupation would be a black eye on the City of Charlotte and the Democratic National Convention at a national and international level. This would be a greater embarrassment to the City and the DNC than an inconvenience to us. The whole world is watching.

www.OccupyClt.net“

Contact:
Yen Alcala, 714-727-8129, ancientwizdom@hotmail.com
Zaina Alsous, 919-757-1031, zaina.alsous@gmail.com
Ben Carroll, 919-604-8167, press@wallstsouth.org

Thousands Expected to March in Charlotte, NC in March on Wall Street South to Raise People’s Agenda for Jobs and Justice to the Banks and the DNC

Charlotte, NC — Thousands of people from across the South and the country have mobilized to convene in Charlotte, North Carolina for the March on Wall Street South on Sunday, September 2, beginning at 11am at Frazier Park.

The demonstration is organized by the Coalition to March on Wall Street South – Building People’s Power at the Democratic National Convention. Over the past 10 months, more than 80 organizations from throughout the South and the U.S. have united to form this unprecedented, grassroots coalition representing countless struggles — including labor, civil rights, immigrants rights, the student and youth movement, the women’s movement, the LGBTQ movement, the anti-war movement, the environmental movement, as well as the Occupy movement. The coalition stands united around the following demands:

• Good jobs for all! Economic justice now! Make the banks and corporations pay for their crisis!
• Money for education, healthcare, housing and all human needs, not for war and incarceration!
• Justice for immigrants and all oppressed peoples! Stop the raids and deportations!

Stepping off at 1pm, The March on Wall Street South will pass by the international headquarters of Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and Duke Energy. Marchers will also pass by the Time Warner Cable Arena as well as Bank of America Stadium where the Democratic National Convention will be held. Coalition organizers secured permits for the demonstration after many attempts over 8 months. More than 1500 people across the country signed a petition demanding the right to march that led to the permit victory.

There will be two stops along the march route — the first at Bank of America and the second at Duke Energy. At both stops, people who have been impacted by the practices of the banks and corporations will raise their grievances directly to these institutions — from people being foreclosured on, to students who are deep in debt, to unemployed people, to communities being devastated by environmental destruction, and more.

Hundreds will march in issue-based contingents such as:

• The Unemployed Workers contingent
• “No Papers No Fear/Sin Papeles y Sin Miedo” Undocumented and Immigrants’ Rights contingent, organized by the Undocubus — a bus of more than 40 undocumented people who started their journey in Arizona and will end at the DNC in Charlotte
• a youth and student-led contingent calling for an end to budget cuts and tuition hikes, and to stop the school-to-prison-pipeline
• “Lesbian/Gay/Bi/Trans/Queer people are part of the 99%”contingent
• “Workers Rights are Human Rights! Organize the South” contingent, who will be organizing the Southern Workers Assembly on Labor Day
• “Housing is a Right! Moratorium on Foreclosures and Evictions!” contingent
• No War, No Warming! Stop the Wars at Home & Abroad!

Following the march, there will be a short closing rally beginning at 4pm at Frazier Park.

Speakers at the march, representing a number of different issues and communities, will include:

• Cindy Foster, President of the Southern Piedmont Central Labor Council
• the Farm Labor Organizing Committee
• Jaribu Hill, Mississippi Workers Center
• Saladin Muhammad, Southern Workers Assembly and Black Workers for Justice
• the Undocubus
• John Heuer, Veterans for Peace
• Monica Embrey, Greenpeace
• Larry Hales, Peoples Power Assemblies
• Jared Hamil, Coalition to March on the RNC
• Rev. CD Witherspoon, Southern Christian Leadership Conference
• Victor Toro, May 1 Coalition for Worker and Immigrants Rights
• Marilyn Levin, United National Antiwar Coalition

There will also be performances during the program from Jasiri X, Rebel Diaz, the Fruit of Labor Singing Ensemble, Jaribu Hill, and a spoken word performance from Cameron Aviles.

Other participants in the march will include: a step team and drum corps from the Grier Heights community in Charlotte, a samba-infused drum corps from Greensboro called Cakalak Thunder, and the National Day Labor Organizing Network’s string band.

###

Coalition to March on Wall Street South PRESS CONFERENCE, 4 PM Friday 8/31 (link to facebook picture gallery)

The March on Wall Street South mobilization kick off is HERE! There are lots of exciting updates, last minute details and important information in this email.

To get to the March on Wall St South in Frazier Park from the Charlotte Transportation Center:

Walk south 1/2 block and turn right onto E. 4th St. (becomes W. 4th St, then W. 4th St Ext.) to Frazier Park at 1201 West 4th Street Ext. (about 20 min walk)

Find transportation leaving from your area to bring folks to Charlotte!

On Saturday, Sunday and Monday, FestivalLiberación, the March on Wall Street South, and the Southern Workers Assembly will be live streamed at the following links:

Also watch wallstsouth.org, our facebook page and twitter for updates and pictures of the events as they happen!

In this email:

Schedule of Events
Convergence Space
Donations Needed!
Contingents
Program
Volunteers Needed!
Parking and Local Bus Info
Bus drop offs
Tabling
Why We March videos

 Schedule of Events

Saturday, September 1: Festivaliberación begins the mobilization! There are many great workshops being planned, and an amazing concert at night featuring local artists, Jasiri X, and Rebel Diaz.

Check out this great video Jasiri X just recorded to help get the word out!

SEE THE FULL SCHEDULE OF THE FESTIVAL HERE!

The Undocubus will also be arriving at the festival in the evening and joining us for the march the next day! You won’t want to miss this!

Sunday, September 2: Thousands will flood the streets of Charlotte for the March on Wall Street South, beginning at 11am in Frazier Park. We’ll march together at 1pm to the big banks and past the sites where the Democratic National Convention will meet during the week. We say: YES to jobs, housing, healthcare, education, the environment, workers rights and justice,  NO to wars, cutbacks, racism and bigotry, and deportations.

Monday, September 3, 1pm: We’ll join the Labor Day Parade in the morning, and gather in the afternoon for the historic Southern Workers Assembly, starting at 1pm at Wedgewood Baptist Church (4800 Wedgewood Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210).

Monday, September 3, 6-11pm: Sin Papeles y Sin Miedo: Festival de canto, poesía y arte with the Undocubus at Mexican Restauran Fiesta Jalisco (5317 E. Independence Blvd)

Wednesday, September 5, 6-10pm: UndocuNation in North Carolina, an artist showcase organized by CultureStrike and the Center for New Community at the Neighborhood Theatre (511 E. 36th Street)

September 4 -6: Affinity group and other actions

Convergence Space

Final preparations and activities continue in our convergence space at Area 15 (514 E. 15th St, at the corner of North Davidson and 15th Sts)! We’ve been hard at work getting it all set up and ready for all the folks that will be traveling to Charlotte for the March on Wall Street South and the other actions around the DNC.

Our new zine is here, packed full of useful information for everyone coming into town and a people’s history of Charlotte. We’re continuing to  hold trainings, organizing meetings, banner painting and art making, and much more out of our convergence space.

Keep checking our website for a full list of upcoming events, trainings, and other activities at the space.For those coming into town looking to get involved, the convergence space is the place to go to get plugged in and get active.

Here’s a great story from the local news about the convergence space.

Donations Needed!

As we move into the demonstrations, there are many expenses that we need to cover to make the mobilization a success — from printing costs, securing sound, staging equipment, and much more.Help us lift up the voices of those most impacted by economic crises, war, cut-backs, deportations, and foreclosures so that the Democrats & the world hear our stories the Sunday before the DNC — make a much-needed contribution to the March on Wall Street South today!

AND CLICK HERE to bid on eBay on ORIGINAL PAINTINGS OF LEADERS OF STRUGGLE painted by Charlotte artist Laurel Green for the March on Wall Street South (pictured below)

March Contingents

Many groups and organizations have been collaborating to pull together dynamic, struggle-based contingents during the March on Wall Street South. At the march, each contingent will have an identifying banner and signs to find them and march together.

Here are the contingents that will be marching with us:

• Unemployed workers
• Organize the South! Workers Rights are Human Rights!
• No Papers No Fear/Sin Papeles y Sin Miedo (Undocumented/Immigrants Rights organized by the Undocubus)
• LGBTQ
• Housing is a Right! Stop Home Foreclosures!
• Youth and Students
  • Including Stop the School to Prison Pipeline section
• Stop the Wars at Home and Abroad
  • Including No War/No Warming, anti-drone,  and Free All Political Prisoners sections

 ProgramWe have a very exciting program of speakers and cultural performers from across NC, the South, and the U.S. working on a range of struggles. Here’s a few of the freedom fighters who will be joining us at the March:

• Yen Alcala, Occupy Charlotte
• Farm Labor Organizing Committee
• Cindy Foster, President of the Southern Piedmont Central Labor Council
• Jaribu Hill, Mississippi Workers Center
• Saladin Muhammad, Black Workers for Justice,
• the Undocubus
• Mary Espinosa,United 4 the Dream
• Efia Nwangaza, Malcolm X Center for Self-Determination
• John Heuer, Veterans for Peace
• Monica Embrey, Greenpeace
• Larry Hales, Peoples Power Assembly
• Fernando Figueroa, Coalition to March on the RNC
• Larry Holmes, Peoples Power Assembly
• Clarence Thomas, ILWU 100
• Rev. CD Witherspoon, Southern Christina Leadership Conference
• Victor Toro, May 1 Coalition for Worker and Immigrants Rights
• Sarah Shanks, Charlotte Clinic Defense
• Marilyn Levin, United National Antiwar Coalition
• and more!

and including performances from:

• Rebel Diaz
• Jasiri X
• Jaribu Hill
• Cameron Aviles, spoken word artist

 Volunteers Needed!

Can you volunteer to help make the March on Wall Street South mobilization a success? We are currently seeking volunteers to help fill these and many other roles:

• The Wellness Brigade (both healthcare workers and street medics are needed)
• ASL interpretation
• De-escalation teams
• Outreach team
• Bus greeters
• Site and stage set-up crews
• and seeking donations of generators, 10×10 pop-up tents, tables, etc.

If you can help with any of these areas or other areas, or have a specialized skill to offer, please send us an email at info@wallstsouth.org, and also be check for updates on the Volunteer section of our site for more specific requests for assistance.

Parking and Local Bus Information

If you are driving to the March on Wall Street South on Sunday, September 2, please plan ahead! Traffic will be difficult, so leave early so that you can arrive safely and on time.

There is no street parking near Frazier Park. However, there are several bus lines and a light rail system that will be running on Sunday. Below is more information about where to park and which lines to ride to get to the park.

Light Rail (LYNX)

There are many park and ride lots located along the light rail line (known as LYNX).

Closest LYNX park and ride to downtown is Scaleybridge (3750 South Blvd.). From there, Woodlawn Station (4756 Old Pineville Rd.), Tyvola Station (5703 Old Pineville Rd.), Archdale Station (6230 South Blvd.), Arrowood Station (7717 England St.), Sharon Rd Station (8815 Crump Rd.), and I-485 Station (9508 South Blvd.), all of which have free parking.

LYNX is $4 round trip.

Exit at the 3rd Street stop. Walk up 3rd St, follow 3rd as it merges into 4th St, and continue up 4th until you reach Frazier Park. It’s about a 15-20 minute walk.

LYNX System Map

Sunday LYNX Schedule

Walking map from 3rd Street Stop

Bus Lines (CATS)

There are also several park and ride lots along two bus lines (known as CATS) that will bring you into Uptown Charlotte. Bus fare is $2 for adults, and children 5 and under ride free.

Route 7

Park and ride lots:

• Northlake Mall (exit 18 off of I-77 / 6801 Northlake Mall Drive), bus stops are located near the Panera Bread
  • Departs at 6:52am, 8:08am, 8:48am, 9:26am, 10:06am
• Rosa Parks Place Community Transit Center (exit 37 off of I-85)
  • Departs at 8:50am and every 20-30 thereafter

Route 7 Full Schedule and Map

Walking directions from the Charlotte Transportation Center

Route 9 Full Schedule and Map

Walking directions from the Charlotte Transportation Center

Other Parking Options

Please click here for a list of lots and other parking available in Uptown Charlotte.

Bus Drop Offs

For groups chartering buses to the March on Wall Street South, the bus drop off location will be on the West 4th St Ext along Frazier Park.

Please print and review this map for instructions on the route that buses should take from the highway to easily access the drop off location, and for information on the bus staging area.

 Tabling info for March on Wall Street South

Click HERE to reserve a table for your organization at the March on Wall Street South opening and closing rally in Frazier Park. Table prices are $25 for literature and $50 for tables that have items for sale. *Please note that without a vendor permit you cannot sell things at the rally site but you can ask for donations. $25/$50 includes 6 foot table and 2 chairs.  You may bring your own 10 x 10 pop-up tent if you like.30 tables available — Reserve yours now, space is limited.Tables must be set up by 10:30 AM.See the Parking section of our website for info about drop off and pick up sites and satellite parking.

TO RESERVE YOUR TABLE, GO TO WALLSTSOUTH.ORG/TABLING  

‘Why We March on Wall Street South’

The Coalition has launched a new video project featuring an organizer from our Coalition who lives, works, and calls Charlotte, NC or a nearby city home. The video project is meant to elevate the voices of the folks who are building this struggle and why they are participating in this mobilization. Every day the next 2 weeks leading up to the march, a new video will be posted,  so be sure to check them all out here!

 Donate to support the March on Wall St. South!

Carly Campbell, a youth organizer who has been working on building the Festivaliberacion, spoke about the plans for this exciting gathering led by immigrant youth and other youth and student organizations. The festival will begin at 12 noon at Area 15 (514 E. 15th Street) and feature a series of workshops and political discussions, and culminate in a concert in the evening featuring local artists and national artists Jasiri X from Pittsburgh, along with Rebel Diaz and the Rebel Diaz Arts Collective from the Bronx, NY.Ernesto Lopez is a Community Organizer associated with the Puente Movement in Arizona who has been working with the migrant community for 7 years. He has worked on Get out the vote Campaigns, struggled against the racist, anti-immigrant law known as SB 1070, built the Arrest Arpaio Campaigns against the infamously racist sheriff, as well as other community building efforts in Arizona. He spoke on the No Papers No Fear bus ride, a mobilization of youth traveling through the country to oppose the repression of undocumented workers. His remarks brought out the need to fight against anti-immigrant bigotry and deportations.The press conference was attended by 15 different media outlets, and was widely covered. All 5 local TV stations came out, the Charlotte Observer, WFAE, AP, New York Times, NBC News (that syndicates to 300 stations around the country), WBT (a radio station), and 102.3 FM.

Some of the coverage follows:

http://www.wcnc.com/news/dnc-charlotte-2012/Protestors-share-March-on-Wall-Street-South-plans-topics-167883195.html

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/protesters-hope-sunday-march-will-attract-10000-pe/nRPB5/

http://rochester.ynn.com/content/decision_2012/597301/demonstrators-prepare-to-march-ahead-of-dnc/

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/08/29/3487608/protesters-prepare-to-speak-against.html

 Donate to support the March on Wall St. South!

 CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW TO VIEW AND BID ON EACH ORIGINAL PAINTING!

Pauli Murray -  (1910-1985). Civil rights activist, lawyer, writer. 1st black woman Episcopalian priest.

Ella Baker - (1903-1986). Activist for 50+ years. Worked with youth who founded SNCC.

Anna Mae Aquash - (1945-1976). Mikmaq activist with American Indian Movement. Assassinated by FBI.

Emiliano Zapata - (1879-1919). Led Liberation Army during Mexican Revolution of 1910.

Fannie Lou Hamer - (1917-1977). Organized the Mississipi Freedom Summer with SNCC.

Henry Berry Lowery - (1845-1872). Led Native, Black, and poor White guerrillas against the Confederacy and KKK.

Mumia Abu Jamal - (1954). Black Panther framed for shooting of police officer. Has continued to publish from prison.

Rachel Corrie - (1979-2003) Helped Palestinians defend their homes. Killed by Israeli Army bulldozer.

Robert F. Williams - (1925-1996). President of Monroe, NC NAACP. Pioneered armed self-defense against the KKK and racist violence.

Mother Jones - (1837 – 1930). Co-founded the IWW, a radical union.

Malcolm X - (1925-1965). Advocated Black self-determination and self-defense. Inspired the Black Panthers.

Rosa Parks - (1913-2005). NAACP organizer who initiated the Montgomery Bus Boycott with an act of civil disobedience.

Martin Luther King - (1929-1968). Worked against segregation and discrimination through civil disobedience.

Can you make an urgently needed donation today of $10, $25, $50, or $100 to help us bring attention and support to the Undocubus, to help us with travel support for families whose homes are being foreclosed on to travel to Charlotte and tell their stories at the door-step of Bank of America, and to help us uplift the voices of students and the unemployed to need jobs with justice and dignity?

Thanks so much for your support! See you in Charlotte!

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