US anti-greed protesters target the banks

About 800 marchers carried signs and banners, banged drums and chanted as part of the March on Wall Street South.

The march's declared aim was to attack corporate greed, but it drew people demonstrating for a variety of causes.

On two occasions, protesters sat and locking arms outside of corporate headquarters, but police took no action.

About two dozen sat for about 10 minutes in front of Bank of America's skyscraper but moved on later.

A similar-sized group sat down in front of the headquarters for Duke Energy but eventually marched on.

The route of the march also took demonstrators by a major office hub for Wells Fargo.

It and Bank of America are two of the largest US financial institutions and beneficiaries of massive taxpayer-backed loans during the 2008 bailout of the financial sector.

Both banks have been criticised for their roles in the home foreclosure crisis.

Hundreds of officers were on hand carrying gas masks, wooden batons and plastic hand ties but they weren't needed.

The Charlotte demonstrators had anti-war signs as well as those promoting unionised labour and the plight of undocumented immigrants.

One read: "Bankrupting America" with a font and logo that mimicked the Bank of America's.

Another said: "Obama murders children with drones."

As they walked, demonstrators chanted: "Banks got bailed out, we got sold out."

foreigneditor@peoples-press.com