We, the undersigned, support the free speech rights of Occupy Charlotte. We believe that the encampment at 600 E. Trade Street should be allowed to continue as a form of political expression.

We are currently living through a time of deep political and economic crisis. Our political system is at a standstill, with politicians in debt to their corporate sponsors. Meanwhile, economic inequality is at its highest point in history: the top 1% average over $1,000,000 in annual family income, while the bottom 90% average just $31,000 annually. Given our media/money-dominated political system, this inequality exacerbates the lack of power of those at the bottom of our economic system. The citizens of Occupy Charlotte are camping out to raise these concerns—and their right to do so must be protected if we are to claim that this is a community that values democracy, that values government of, by, and for the people.

While some city police forces have forcibly attacked local Occupations, we hope that Charlotte will follow the model of Irvine, CA, where an ordinance was recently passed explicitly allowing their local Occupation to continue. As Irvine’s Mayor, Sukhee Kang, said, "It is important as a city to respect and facilitate free speech rights for everyone.”

To date, the City of Charlotte has allowed the protestors to stay at 600 E. Trade Street. All we ask is that the City continue to do so, to support Occupy Charlotte’s right to, in the words of the First Amendment, “petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”