CHARLOTTE, N.C. Protesters went door-to-door in a low-income west Charlotte neighborhood on Tuesday to face one of their biggest challenges: Convincing the poor to join street demonstrations meant to highlight their struggles.
For weeks, organizers have knocked on doors, visited African-American churches and chatted up bus riders in neighborhoods such as Grier Heights and Hidden Valley to recruit seemingly natural allies to join protests during the Democratic National Convention.
“We’re trying to build a movement,” said Scottie Wingfield, a member of Occupy Charlotte.
But if Tuesday’s recruiting trip were any indication, organizers face some barriers.
Walking up to an African-American woman outside of one townhouse, a white protester called out, “Hey, sister.”
“Sister?” she asked. “It’s ma’am to you.”
The protester apologized, and invited her to Sunday’s March on Wall Street South. When she said she couldn’t walk or stand for long, he invited her to a rally before the march.
One man said he was upset that President Barack Obama may stay in suburban Ballantyne when he visits Charlotte.
“The way the world is now, ain’t nobody helping us,” said Tommy Thomas, 19, a senior at West Mecklenburg High School. “No matter how many people vote, money conquers all. It’s a brainwash to the people, thinking their votes count.”
Grass-roots campaigns struggle to recruit new members from any background, but swaying the poor is especially vexing, experts said.
Some have no faith in the political system. Others must work and have no time for participation. And still others are simply apathetic.
The issue is important because minorities, the homeless, unemployed and others can lend credibility to protest groups sometimes led by white college students.
At the Republican National Convention in Tampa, the major protest rally Monday drew between 250 and 500 protesters, organizers said, far fewer than the 5,000 they had expected. Organizers blamed bad weather caused by Hurricane Isaac.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/08/29/3485486/dnc-protesters-try-to-recruit.html
please please come protest with us. We look pathetic.
For weeks, organizers have knocked on doors, visited African-American churches and chatted up bus riders in neighborhoods such as Grier Heights and Hidden Valley to recruit seemingly natural allies to join protests during the Democratic National Convention.
“We’re trying to build a movement,” said Scottie Wingfield, a member of Occupy Charlotte.
But if Tuesday’s recruiting trip were any indication, organizers face some barriers.
Walking up to an African-American woman outside of one townhouse, a white protester called out, “Hey, sister.”
“Sister?” she asked. “It’s ma’am to you.”
The protester apologized, and invited her to Sunday’s March on Wall Street South. When she said she couldn’t walk or stand for long, he invited her to a rally before the march.
One man said he was upset that President Barack Obama may stay in suburban Ballantyne when he visits Charlotte.
“The way the world is now, ain’t nobody helping us,” said Tommy Thomas, 19, a senior at West Mecklenburg High School. “No matter how many people vote, money conquers all. It’s a brainwash to the people, thinking their votes count.”
Grass-roots campaigns struggle to recruit new members from any background, but swaying the poor is especially vexing, experts said.
Some have no faith in the political system. Others must work and have no time for participation. And still others are simply apathetic.
The issue is important because minorities, the homeless, unemployed and others can lend credibility to protest groups sometimes led by white college students.
At the Republican National Convention in Tampa, the major protest rally Monday drew between 250 and 500 protesters, organizers said, far fewer than the 5,000 they had expected. Organizers blamed bad weather caused by Hurricane Isaac.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/08/29/3485486/dnc-protesters-try-to-recruit.html
please please come protest with us. We look pathetic.