On Wednesday, April 21st 2010, Community leaders and residents of several slums in Rio de Janeiro met with public defenders, engineers and architects, leaders of non-profit organizations, representatives from the Pastoral de Favelas, and at least one journalist from the São Paulo newspaper Estadão.

The meeting was the first Assembly that included all of the favelas/slums facing the constant threats that Rio’s Mayor Eduardo Paes and his administration have made to remove all residents in “areas of risk.” Approximately 400-500 people were present for this meeting, which was aimed at uniting the various communities in their struggle against Eduardo Paes’ plans for immediate an complete removal.