Comment and analysis on all things Charlotte

Police Chief: “We’ll Only Target the Troublemakers.”

Who will the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department target at the DNC? Just the “troublemakers, the agitators … Those that are looking to do more than just voice their opinions.”

So says the chief of police, Rodney Monroe. But as long as they aren’t camping out, they have nothing to worry about.

That’s because they won’t be there if the Charlotte plan survives legal scrutiny. The ordinance is geared toward just allowing one or two “groups” to show up. But these protesters don’t usually travel — much less apply for permits — as organized groups. And even if a group got one, they’d have to come up with the money up front to cover the potential costs of police for the protest as part of the permit process. I’m sure that will be a hunky chunk of change.

The security at the convention, by the way, is supposed to be both historic, and trend setting for the future.

One Response to “Police Chief: “We’ll Only Target the Troublemakers.””

  • Jan
    26
    2012

    Tara, you are a master of the obvious. Of course there is going to be massive security at the DNC and of course the police are going to focus more on people who act boisterously than people who are subdued.

    And of course there is a limited amount of public space so if anybody is going to be allowed to demonstrate there has to be some way of organizing things so it’s not just an unruly mob. So permits must be applied for and issued.

    Tara, didn’t you say that you don’t treat your audience like they’re stupid? I am beginning to wonder.

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