Protesters hope Sunday march will attract 10,000 people

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A group of protesters hopes more than 10,000 people will join their movement and march through Charlotte this weekend.

The group said Wednesday more people could come to the Queen City than what was initially expected, because rain brought in by Isaac washed out protests in Tampa.

"We know that a lot of them who might not have initially planned on coming to Charlotte but they feel that the DNC is a great opportunity for them to raise their voice," said Occupy Charlotte member Michael Zytkow.

The rally and march will start and end at Frazier Park, but instead of one group marching the 3-mile route, Eyewitness News learned there will now be two.

The counterprotest group calls itself “March for Liberty 2012.” Organizer Tom Kerr said when he saw what the Coalition to March on Wall Street South movement stood for, he decided to start a group of his own.

"I just felt that I couldn't allow socialist-leaning groups to march on our city on a post. They have a right to be there, but we also have the right to counter them," Kerr said.

Kerr said instead of blaming banks, his group is focused on taking financial responsibility. They're against the expansion of welfare and increasing taxes to pay for it. They're also against unions, which are all issues Wall Street South activists said they are for.

"It's about celebrating people's power and raising awareness  of the people agenda," Michael Zytkow said.

The two groups will walk the same 3-mile route at the same time. Wall Street South activists will make stops at the Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Duke Energy headquarters.

"We're standing up for issues that most impact everyday people, so if you're against that, then you have all the right, and we welcome  you to voice that," said Ayende Alcala, a member of the Coalition to the March on Wall Street South.

March for Liberty activists will make the same stops, too, but with a message of their own.

"We're not going to be getting up in people's faces. We're going to be on the other side of the street with our own little message," Kerr said.

March on Wall Street South organizers have permits to walk in the street, while the other group doesn't, which is why they plan to walk on the sidewalk.

March on Wall Street South organizers are expecting anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000 people to come out. The March for Liberty group is expecting 50 to 70 people to join in the march against them.

WSOC