As promised, we’ll be bringing you voices from Occupy Charlotte for as long as they’re camped on the lawn at Old City Hall. This week, we’re talking with Occupiers who have visited other camps, and asking the question: How does Occupy Charlotte stack up?
Meet Charlie Howell. He splits his time between Charlotte and Norfolk, Va., where he works as a ship builder. We chatted on Oct. 27 at Occupy Charlotte’s information desk, at first about Cornell West‘s recent visit to their camp.
I didn’t get audio of him talking about West’s visit, but I did get him answering the same three questions I’ve asked other Occupiers: Who are you? Where are you from? And, why are you here? In part, he said, “I’m a father. I’m a shipbuilder. I’m a young black man in America.” And, in response to my query about why he occupies, he replied, “Why am I here? Because I should be here.”
Listen to Charlie in his own words:
Charlie Howell at Occupy Charlotte on why he Occupies by RhiannonFionn
- Charlie Howell
- Occupy Norfolk takes a group picture with Cornell West in October
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This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2011.
