By JOHN NORTH

HORSE SHOE — Former Idaha state Rep. Curtis Bowers said America’s communist movement has been tremendously successful and is rapidly transforming the culture, putting it on a trajectory that will eventually result in a loss of individual freedom and totalitarian control by certain elites.

Bowers, producer of the 2010 anti-communism documentary “Agenda: Grinding America Down,” addressed about 50 people during “An Evening With Curtis Bowers” program at Grass Roots Café here Dec. 2. After his speech, Bowers fielded questions from the crowd.

On the three-month anniversary of Occupy Wall Street, members of Occupy Asheville held a series of activities Dec. 17 in downtown Asheville to mourn what the group termed the “death of civil liberties.” Specifically, the OA billed its event as recognizing the “local and national loss of rights, Bradely Manning’s detention and passage of the Defense Authorization Act.” In blustery cold weather, about 30 protesters gathered first in Pritchard Park for a funeral, after which several pall-bearers were selected to carry a casket for the Bill of Rights (above) to the steps of Asheville City Hall, where a candlelight vigil was held.

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Emily Blanco, 5, daughter of Ruth Blanco of Asheville, holds a “No more raids!” sign at the Dec. 18 immigration protest in Asheville.

A recent immigration raid in which 12 workers — allegedly in the United States illegally — were arrested at Shogun Buffet in Asheville triggered a Dec. 18 protest in downtown Asheville.

Despite chilly weather, the midday gathering drew about 100 people to the Vance Monument area in Pack Square.

The program began about 35 minutes late and featured several speeches. Then, the contingent marched around the downtown streets, chanting “No more raids” and various other slogans. Among the signs they carried were “Justice for the Shogun 12” and “ICE out of our communities.”

The marchers paused twice — at Pritchard Park and at the Buncombe County Courthouse.