7 arrested in Occupy Charlotte protests

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police arrested a total of 7 protesters from the Occupy Charlotte movement Monday, after a new city ordinance went into effect prohibiting camping on city grounds.

Nearly 30 CMPD officers began dismantling the campsites just after 2:45 p.m., after the protesters were given one final warning to dismantle their structures.

In total, some 40 tents were disbanded in just over an hour and seven face misdemeanor charges of delaying and obstructing officers.

Monday’s move followed a decision last week by Charlotte City Council to disband the campsites — a decision that they knew then would directly affect the Occupy protesters and would likely have an effect on the DNC in September.

Police issued written and verbal warnings Sunday night and returned just after 7 a.m. Monday to serve notice of a 2:30 hard deadline.

The only structure that remains is canopy-covered information table that police said was not considered a shelter or dwelling.