By Cleve R. Wootson Jr.
cwootson@charlotteobserver.com

Determined to prevent a repeat of violence that marred the Memorial Day weekend, city leaders Wednesday outlined plans to better manage Fourth of July crowds uptown.

From the mayor to the police chief, leaders also asked for citizens' help. They urged parents to keep watch over their teens, who played a large role in last month's civil disturbance that involved fistfights, gang-related scuffles and left one person dead. About 100,000 are expected for July 4 uptown.

The city wants to show the world it can handle large events uptown, as Democrats prepare to stage their convention in Charlotte next year.

The July Fourth festivities are "definitely a bigger deal this year, largely in part because the DNC will be coming," City Council member Patrick Cannon told the Observer. "Any related festival or event like the Fourth of July will be monitored, and the way we handle it will be monitored."

In a news conference Wednesday, police, transit and fire officials described plans to beef up crowd-control measures for Monday evening's activities and the fireworks display. Police won't give precise numbers or describe specific tactics, but they say hundreds of officers will be deployed. Restaurants and other businesses at the Charlotte Transportation Center uptown, near many of the trouble spots in May, will close early to discourage loitering.

"What you're hearing today is a commitment from these individuals to provide a safe and fun holiday celebration," Mayor Anthony Foxx said at the news conference. "This time, we have an opportunity to show we can do this safely."

An hour later, a civic group representing nearly 500 black men spoke about its plans to help authorities keep things calm on Independence Day. The group, called Men Who Care Global, will walk around uptown in orange T-shirts, modeling good behavior and trying to de-escalate problems.

"We're not planning on being bouncers. I'm not big enough to be a bouncer," said Ron Leeper, a group leader. "Our first step is just to model how a large number of African-American men can be together and not have to act out."

Last month's disturbance happened as a crowd of nearly 30,000 milled around in the hours after the conclusion of the NASCAR-themed Food Lion Speed Street event. Several fights broke out, and police called in extra crowd-control officers. Police shocked one man with a Taser during an arrest outside the Ritz-Carlton hotel. Around 1 a.m., someone shot and killed 22-year-old Antwan Smith near the Hilton, and injured a second man.

Crowd control uptown

Monday's fireworks will go off about 9:30 p.m., but police expect crowds to remain well after, lured by bars, clubs and other entertainment events.

Among the steps planned to prevent problems:

-- Officers will be present in large numbers at areas that typically draw crowds, including the transit center, the Trade-College street intersection, and the route from the fireworks launching area at Memorial Stadium to the Square. School security officers, undercover police and the Civil Emergency Unit will also be used.

-- Police will increase their use of observation towers and surveillance cameras to watch the crowds.

-- Authorities will limit pedestrian access to the transit center. Only the Fourth Street side of the transportation hub will be open, and bicycle racks will be installed as barriers. The transit center is also using portable lights to illuminate areas just outside its boundaries.

-- Officers will strictly enforce the county curfew for youth, which requires children under 16 to be accompanied by an adult outside of their homes after 11 p.m. on weekdays. Parents could be charged with a crime or fined for violations.

A request for parents

Foxx and Police Chief Rodney Monroe said parents and other custodians of teens will play a key role in the effort to keep the uptown celebration safe.

"We are really, really, really depending on parents to make sure they are in control of their children - especially those 12 to 13 - who are allowed to go uptown," Foxx said.

Monroe added, "Parents need to know where their kids are - and what they're doing."

The mayor and chief have recorded public service announcements to be aired on TV, encouraging people to mind their children and celebrate Independence Day responsibly.
***
Observer staff writer Steve Lyttle contributed to this report.

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