Four Charlotte-area men, at least two of whom are members of the Occupy Charlotte group, were charged early Friday after they burned two U.S. flags at the organization’s camp site in the uptown area.
Burning a U.S. flag is not against the law, but the four were charged with careless use of a fire, a misdemeanor.
Several people at the Occupy Charlotte site, on East Trade Street in front of the old city hall, said Friday afternoon that at least two of the men charged in the incident were members of the organization. One of those is Occupy Charlotte’s spokesman, they said.
Charged in the case were Jason Bargert, 28, of Charlotte; Michael Behrle, 23, of Matthews; Stephen Morris, 20, of Matthews; and Alex Tyler, 19, of Fort Mill. Bargert was identified by people at the camp site as a spokesman for the group. Two men at the site also said Tyler was part of the Charlotte organization.
There was no word as to why the men burned the flag, but in the past, Bargert and Tyler have spoken publicly against what they say is corporate greed and the government’s failure to control the power of corporate leaders.
According to a police report, officers spotted a fire being set about 12:30 a.m. on East Trade Street near the Occupy Charlotte site. That site is a few hundred feet from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police headquarters, and officers have kept a close eye on the group since it pitched tents in front of the old city hall on Sept. 17.
Police said the four men had burned two U.S. flags, and they were charged because the men did not use a fire pit.
Read the complete story at charlotteobserver.com
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