Latin America Solidarity Conference IV – Alternatives to Empire

Conference Announcement:

www.LASolidarity.org

1. Latin America Solidarity Conference IV (April 13-15, Chicago)

2. Schedule of Events (Workshops, Plenaries, McDonald’s Protest, etc.)

3. Exhibits and Films

4. Fliers and Outreach

5. Housing and Directions

6. Money Matters

7. Contact Information

REGISTER for the conference now: www.lasolidarity.org/lasc4/register.html

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1. Latin America Solidarity Conference IV

4th LATIN AMERICA SOLIDARITY CONFERENCE (LASC IV)

ALTERNATIVES TO EMPIRE

Friday, April 13 – Sunday, April 15, 2007

University of Illinois (UIC) College of Medicine

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, United States

The 4th national Latin America Solidarity Coalition conference (LASC IV) will take place from April 13-15 in Chicago. US grassroots solidarity activists will be joined by activists and organizers from Latin America and the Caribbean to plan, evaluate and celebrate the growing US Latin America solidarity movement. Participants in the conference will exchange information on the state of the campaigns against military, political, and economic U.S. Intervention in Latin America and the Caribbean and develop action plans. Art and culture, which is an integral part of grassroots movement building throughout the Americas, will be a strong component of the conference. LASC IV will also be a space for reflection and discussion about vision, strategy and tactics.

Call out for the conference: lasolidarity.org/lasc4

Endorsing groups and organizations: lasolidarity.org/lasc4/endorsers.html

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2. Schedule of Events

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FRIDAY, April 13

Coalition of Immokalee Workers Protest at the McDonalds HQ in Oak Brook, IL (suburb of Chicago, during the day/business hours)

6:00pm – 7:30pm LASC4 Opening Plenary Session

Anti-capitalism in our daily lives and in our organizations

7:30pm- 9:30pm Networking Reception, Performance, Open Mic

SATURDAY, April 14

10:00am – 12:30pm Carnival in downtown Chicago

10:00 am – 2:00 pm Registration, Photo and Art Exhibit at the Conference site

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm Plenary Session: Issues: Immigration/Labor, Trade/Economics, Militarization, Impunity/Movement for Justice, Environmental Justice/Indigenous Rights

3:15 pm – 4:15 pm Workshops

4:25 pm – 5:25 pm Workshops

5:35 pm – 6:35 pm Workshops

Dinner break

8:30pm – 11:00pm Culture as a Space for Struggle- Plenary and Performance

SUNDAY, April 15

9:00 am – 10:00 am Workshops

10:10 am – 11:10 pm Workshops

11:20 am – 12:20 pm Workshops

Lunch break, Networking

1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Workshops

2:45 pm – 4:00 pm Final Plenary/closing

Full list of workshops: www.lasolidarity.org/lasc4/workshop_schedule.html

Information about the McDonald’s protest and the carnival on Saturday morning: www.CIW-Online.org

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3. Art Exhibits and Films

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The Latin America Solidarity Conference (LASC IV) will be displaying artwork, photo exhibitions, banners and protest posters. There will also be a film room running all day Saturday and Sunday, showing films related to struggles in Latin America and solidarity work.

A list of films that will be screened will be available at www.LASolidarity.org shortly

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4. Fliers and Outreach

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Spread the word! Mobilize your community to come to Chicago for the Latin America Solidarity Conference and the McDonald’s protest. The Beehive Design Collective created the LASC4 flier in Spanish and English.

Download the flier: www.lasolidarity.org/lasc4/flyers.html

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5. Housing and Directions

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If you live in the Chicago area and you can offer couch and/or floor space to out of town Latin America Solidarity activists, please fill out the information on the housing board: www.lasolidarity.org/lasc4/housing.html

Hostels and Hotels

Chicago has 4 hostels. Visit www.hostelz.com for description and rates.

Hotels close to the conference location:

Marriott Hotels (312) 491-1234 625 S Ashland Avenue

Crown Plaza Metro Chicago 731 W Madison (312) 666-0383

Crowne Plaza Chicago The Metro 1 S Halsted Street (312) 829-5000

Holiday Inn Hotels & Suites (312) 957-9100 506 W Harrison Street

Directions to the LASC IV conference site: www.uic.edu/depts/mcam/directions/index.shtml

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6. Money Matters

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The organizing of a national conference like this is a huge undertaking and wouldn’t be possible without the support of grassroots activists. If you individually or organizationally are able to contribute financially to this project, please send a check or money order to

Latin America Solidarity Coalition

c/o CISPES

168 7th Street, 3rd Floor

Brooklyn, NY 11215

You can also make a secure credit card donation through PayPal on the LASC webpage: www.LASolidarity.org

Your contribution will help to cover the expenses for outreach materials, transportation costs, food, money for scholarships and equipment needs.

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7. Contact Information

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Latin America Solidarity Coalition (LASC)

web: www.LASolidarity.org

email: info (at) lasolidarity.org

tel: 212-465-8115

see you in Chicago!