(Newser)
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Today’s annual Bank of America shareholder meeting is going to be a little crowded: Protesters are planning to show up in full force at the bank’s headquarters in Charlotte, NC. The demonstrators, inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement, are calling their group 99% Power and plan on expressing anger on issues including foreclosures, corporate taxes, bailout money, and more. The meeting has been declared an “extraordinary event,” meaning officials can ban items such as backpacks or, ahem, crowbars in order to cut down on safety issues.
"Shareholder season is one of the only times of the year when everyday people can go face-to-face with the most powerful corporate decision makers in the country," says one activist. Protesters have already targeted similar meetings this year, including Wells Fargo’s last month, where more than 500 showed up. BofA’s shareholder meeting has drawn demonstrators before, but this year is expected to bring a much larger crowd, Reuters notes.
