Protests against white nationalist held across the nation

The Latest: Hundreds rally at California beaches

Boston Free Speech- Facebook

BOSTON (AP) - Hundreds of people have rallied at Southern California beaches to condemn racism in the wake of the deadly events in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Several hundred people rallied Saturday near a lifeguard tower in Laguna Beach, south of Los Angeles.

Mayor Toni Iselman told the crowd that "Laguna Beach doesn't tolerate diversity, we embrace diversity."

The demonstration was held one day before the group America First! planned to hold its own demonstration against illegal immigration in the same spot.

Saturday's demonstrators said they didn't want to confront the other group but counter-demonstrators are expected Sunday and police will be out in force.

A similar anti-racism event was held Saturday near the famed Venice beach boardwalk in Los Angeles.

CONFEDERATE MONUMENT PROTEST-NORTH CAROLINA-THE LATEST

The Latest: Confederate soldier statue in NC city defaced

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - Another North Carolina city is cleaning up after vandals defaced the base of a Confederate soldier statue.

Multiple media organizations reported someone spray-painted unintelligible black letters on at least two sides of the downtown Winston-Salem memorial, but did not deface the soldier portrayed atop the base. The damage was mostly cleansed within two hours of the incident Friday night.

Police earlier issued a statement responding to queries about a downtown Ku Klux Klan rally rumored for Saturday. Police said they had received no requests from the white supremacist organization for a rally.

The Winston-Salem Journal reports the monument was erected in 1905 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy, which still claims ownership. It stands at a street corner before the former county courthouse, which was converted to private apartments.

CONFEDERATE MONUMENT PROTEST-CAMPUS ANGST

After Charlottesville, students worry about safety on campus

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia (AP) - As classes begin in colleges and universities across their country, parents are wondering if campuses are safe following last week's violent white nationalist protests in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Meanwhile, school administrators are grappling with the difficult question of how to balance students' physical safety with free speech.

At the University of Virginia, President Teresa Sullivan welcomed "every person of every race, every gender, every national origin, every religious belief, every orientation and every other human variation."

Afterward, anxious parents asked university administrators tough questions about the gun policy on campus, white supremacists and the likelihood of similar violence in the future.

In an interview, Sullivan said the university is revamping its emergency protocols, increasing the number of security officers patrolling the grounds and hiring an outside higher education safety consultant.

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