Police in
James Ian Tyson, 27, a
Derek Fletcher, Tyson's lawyer, said at a
hearing Monday that police were eager to keep Tyson jailed through the
convention, and the $10,000 cash bond for a traffic offense was excessive. A
Charlotte-Mecklenberg police officer recommended Tyson not be freed on pre-trial
release, a court document said.
"Known activist and protester who is currently
on terrorist watch list. Request he be held due to DNC being a National Special
Security Event," the police officer wrote in a statement to the court.
Chief District Judge Lisa Bell reduced the bond
to $2,500. Tyson was released Monday evening. UPI
"The state wanted to keep my client in jail
during the DNC so he couldn't help organize any protests,"
Fletcher told the Observer. "I informed the judge it appeared to me that
the state was trying to suppress my client
from exercising his rights to speak during the DNC." charlotteobserver.com After he was released from jail, Tyson read a
statement, saying his arrest was politically motivated.
charlotteobserver.com "I have done nothing wrong and have nothing to
hide. I am a local Charlottean and an activist and I believe this is an attempt
to stifle my First Amendment rights and keep my voice from being heard," he
said. charlotteobserver.com Michael Zytkow, an Occupy Charlotte organizer,
confirmed that Tyson is a Meanwhile, hundreds of demonstrators rallied in
About 200 protesters tried to march to the site
of the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday afternoon, but they were
stopped by the police before they could get to the site.
thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com Officers took two protesters away in handcuffs,
other demonstrators got into shouting matches with delegates and their standoff
cut off a route used by buses bringing delegates to the area. Still, no violence
or significant damage occurred even after the protesters were eventually allowed
to march into the heart of
ISH/SM
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