Chanting “Forward together, not one step back!” a crowd of approximately 10,000 people, predominantly women, rallied and marched through downtown Asheville as part of a national day of action following the inauguration of the billionaire misogynist and bigot Donald Trump.

Asheville, NC – Over 400 people came out for a protest Nov. 12 against President-elect Donald Trump. The protest was put together by Freedom Road Socialist Organization organizers Charla Schlueter and Sarah Graham and was the third day in a row for protests here.

Asheville NC – Over 300 people came out here, Nov. 10, to stand in solidarity with Muslims, women, African Americans, immigrants, and LGBTQ members of the community. People shared moving stories about their fears and the need to preemptively organize against the raciest Trump regime.

Asheville, NC – With just a few days notice, 1000 protesters filled the streets on Aug. 12 to protest Republican nominee Donald Trump. “We wanted to make it clear that his bigotry and lies are not welcome in area code 828,” said community member Ken Hurley. “I am just appalled that this racist ass is considered a viable electoral option.”

Asheville NC – Dozens of people came out to protest Governor Pat McCory’s bigotry law HB2, May 14. They gathered at Memorial Stadium and marched to a Town Mountain Mansion where McCory meets for an annual open house in Asheville.

Asheville, NC – Over 100 people marched to protest the police murder of Eric Garner, an African American man killed by a white cop in New York. A grand jury failed to indict NYPD officer Daniel Pantaleo, despite a graphic video showing the police officer choke-holding Garner from behind. The large crowd in Asheville marched from the Buncombe County Courthouse to the center of downtown to rally and stage a die in against police brutality on Dec. 6. Despite the rain, protesters, led by students, chanted, “Hands up, don’t shoot!” and “We are unstoppable, another world is possible!”

Asheville, NC – Over 200 people gathered downtown here, Nov. 25 in front of the Vance Monument to protest the grand jury decision not to indict Darren Wilson for the murder of Michael Brown.

Asheville, NC – Western Carolinians for Peace and Justice in the Middle East rallied at the Vance Monument downtown here, Aug. 9, to protest Israeli attacks on Gaza and the West Bank.

Asheville, NC – Two-dozen workers gathered in downtown Asheville for a rally on May 1 to celebrate International Workers Day. Community members and workers brought red flags and signs such as, “Thou shalt not steal. Stop wage theft now!” The Asheville May 1st Coalition organized the rally, bringing together organizers from Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Women Organizing to Resist and Defend, Veterans For Peace, Industrial Workers of the World, Asheville Homeless Network and Just Economics.

Asheville, NC – Amidst the backdrop of continuing congressional inaction on immigration reform, over 100 community members gathered at Saint Lawrence Basilica and marched to the courthouse, demanding an end to deportations and full legalization for all families. The Asheville chapter of Coalición de Organizaciones Latino-Americanas (COLA) joined over 80 cities taking part in a National Day of Action to End Deportations on April 5, organized by the National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON).

Asheville, NC – Over 50 people rallied in downtown here, Aug. 31, to protest the looming military intervention in Syria. Protesters chanted “No justice, no peace, U.S. out of the Middle East!” and held banners and signs demanding “Hands off Syria!”

Asheville, NC – On Aug. 8, protesters gathered in downtown here, to rally for an end to the attacks against women and against abortion restrictions in North Carolina. The event was organized by WORD (Women Organized to Resist and Defend).

Asheville, NC – 10,000 people gathered in front of the Buncombe County Courthouse, overflowing into the streets in Downtown Asheville for Mountain Moral Monday, Aug. 5.

Asheville, NC – 100 people joined the National Day of Action in Downtown Asheville to demand justice for Trayvon Martin, July 20.

Asheville, NC – SITEL workers and community members came out on the afternoon of Sept. 5 for a lively picket, supporting SITEL workers’ right to organize. Picketers held signs opposing SITEL’s union busting practices. One read, “United we bargain – divided we beg.”

Fight Back! interviewed Sarah Buchner, a call center worker at SITEL Corporation in Asheville, North Carolina. The New South is notorious for low-wages and big corporations calling all the shots, but brave new leaders like Buchner are arising to organize unions. Their yearlong struggle for respect, better benefits and good wages is gaining power and impacting the local area.

Asheville, NC – The FBI is harassing anti-war and international solidarity activists in North Carolina again, this time in Asheville. The last time was on Sept. 24, 2010 when the FBI visited a Durham anti-war activist at the same time they were raiding seven homes and the Anti-War Committee office in Minneapolis and Chicago. Back on that day the FBI delivered 14 subpoenas to a grand jury in Chicago, which all the activists refused to participate in.

Asheville, NC – Dozens of community members and students rallied and marched through downtown Asheville April 7, chanting, “Gay or straight, stop the hate! Vote no on May 8th!” Amendment One is an anti-GLBTQ marriage proposal. The University of North Carolina-Asheville Coalition Against Amendment One organized the event.

Asheville, NC – On April 2, about 80 people attended a workshop on the Sept. 24, 2010 FBI raids and grand jury repression of anti-war and solidarity activists at the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) southern regional conference here. In addition to NLG members from across the South, over two dozen community members from Asheville’s peace and justice movements came to learn about the case and to show their support for the targeted activists.

Asheville, NC – Despite freezing rain, 35 protesters gathered in front of the Asheville Federal Building here, Jan. 25, chanting, “Stop the witch hunts, stop the raids – we are here we are not afraid!” The protest was a part of the national day of action in solidarity with the nine newly subpoenaed activists who were called before a grand jury in Chicago.