CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- In the midst of a family-friendly event, about a dozen people from the Occupy Wall Street movement snuck their way into an uptown Labor Day parade between the postal worker’s union and a group supporting the election of Gary Henderson for district court judge.
They chanted, “Left wing, right wing, stop that chatter! Corporations own the government, your votes don’t matter!”
Many of them carried signs written on the back of pizza boxes, and one read, “Obama is a F------ Traitor.”
The sign – and the protesters – got a mixed reaction from the crowd watching on the sidelines.
Many did a double-take, wide-eyed, while others laughed. Some shook their heads and booed while others applauded the Occupiers.
Occupier Rami Shamir, who held the sign for much of the parade route, said he didn’t think laborers should be celebrating on Labor Day.
“They should be nonviolently disrupting the corporate institutions that keep them enslaved,” the Brooklyn native said.
Occupier Stacey Hessler called their presence at the parade “outreach.”
“I’m glad we found a way to get into the parade and get the message to the people along the parade route,” Hessler said.
But not everyone was pleased with their appearance.
“The obscenity is ridiculous, this should be a family function,” said Samantha Lamontagne, 37, who was watching the parade with her two children, ages 7 and 11. “The fact that security is letting them in the parade is absolutely ridiculous.”
Shamir said he didn’t see the Occupiers’ message as offensive.
“Arrogance is disrespectful,” Shamir said. “ ‘F------’ is not.”
