Washington, D.C. – About 350 people came together here, April 9-10, to attend the Latin America Solidarity Coalition (LASC) conference. The LASC is an association of national and local U.S.-based grassroots Latin America and Caribbean solidarity groups working towards common goals and strategies of self-determination. 82 groups co-sponsored the LASC.

Over 300 people gathered to protest hate crimes in Asheville, North Carolina. The protesters began in the Montford District of Asheville, chanting, “Queer or straight, we don't hate!” The spirited protest met at local business “Todd’s Tasties” and marched two miles to Pack Square in downtown Asheville.

Asheville NC – August 16, 2008, 200 protesters gathered in Pack Square, downtown Asheville NC, to march and rally against the raiding tactics of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This came in response to a raid just two days earlier, on August 13th, at Mills Manufacturing – a parachute manufacturer. The majority of arrested workers are from Mexico, but also Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Ecuador. This was the largest raid ever in the western part of North Carolina. Community members immediately rushed to the factory, but were unable to stop the raid.

Asheville, NC – Over 150 students, community activists and members of the Coalition for College Access (C4CA) gathered on the campus quad for a walkout and rally, raising the demand “Education for all!” at the University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNCA), March 31.

Asheville, NC – One hundred students gathered on the steps of the University of North Carolina-Asheville’s (UNCA) Ramsey library today to protest against the administration cutting days out of the 2009-2010 academic calendar. With banners reading “Transparency now!” and chanting, “Let the students have your say, give us back our reading day!” students rallied for accountability, transparency and more student participation in decisions that affect them and the university community. The Coalition for Education Rights, made up of several campus organizations including Students for a Democratic Society, Student Government Association and HOLA (Hispanic Outreach for Learning and Awareness) organized the action.