FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 11, 2017 NLG Mobilizes Legal Support Ahead of “Unite the Right” Counter-Protests CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA—The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) is coordinating legal support in anticipation of counter-protests to the white supremacist “Unite the Right Free Speech Rally” to take place tomorrow in Charlottesville, VA. White nationalist hate groups including the Ku Klux […]
Tag Archives: Police
Rights Groups File FOIA to Uncover Details About Police Use of Force, Infiltration of Inauguration Protests
FOIA filing comes as D.C. Council moves to investigate police misconduct on January 20 DC National Lawyers Guild (DC NLG) and Defending Rights and Dissent, two groups who defend the right to protest, are demanding answers about the Metropolitan Police Department’s conduct during anti-Trump inauguration protests. Earlier today, the two groups filed a Freedom of […]
Victory for NLG NYC Members in Civil Rights Case Challenging NYPD Use of LRAD Sound Cannons Against Protesters
US District Court: NYPD Long Range Acoustic Device (“LRAD”) Uses Against Black Lives Matter Protesters, Journalists, and Bystanders May Have Been Excessive Force, NYC LRAD Training May Be Deficient WHAT: Press conference with several Plaintiffs and Counsel WHEN: 6/1/2017 at 12:30pm WHERE: US District Court – SDNY – 500 Pearl St., NY, NY 10007 – […]
NLG Denounces Politically Motivated Superseding Indictment in DC Inauguration Felony Cases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 2, 2017 NEW YORK—The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) decries US Attorney Channing Phillips’ recently filed superseding indictment against hundreds of people indiscriminately rounded up and arrested on President Trump’s inauguration date, January 20. After the Washington, DC police “kettled” protesters, journalists, bystanders and legal observers, leaving them on the streets for […]
Legal Observers’ testimony opposing confirmation of Peter Newsham as DC Police Chief
Three individuals who were arrested while serving as NLG Legal Observers during the #J20 protests on Inauguration Day submitted this testimony to the DC City Council in opposition to Peter Newsham (currently Interim Police Chief) being confirmed as the permanent Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief of Police, citing: “His disrespect for First Amendment rights as […]
Anti-Boycott Bills Are Part of Wider Crackdown on Protest
By Chip Gibbons, Policy and Legislative Counsel at Bill of Rights Defense Committee/Defending Dissent Foundation A number of commentators have noted two different trends. First, across the nation Republican lawmakers are pushing for bills criminalizing protests. Second, a number of state legislatures have passed or considered, often at the impetus of Democratic lawmakers, bills aimed at […]
New Anti-Protesting Legislation: A Deeper Look
By Traci Yoder, NLG Director of Research and Education In recent weeks, multiple articles have pointed to the wave of new anti-protesting bills introduced in state legislatures since the end of 2016. The Intercept, Washington Post, AlterNet, Democracy Now!, and other news outlets have provided overviews of the types of bills under consideration, the potential […]
NLG Calls on DC Prosecutors to Drop All Charges against J20 Demonstrators, Legal Observers and Journalists
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 2, 2017 Contact: Tasha Moro, NLG Communications Director (212) 679-5100, ext. 15 | communications@nlg.org NEW YORK—The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) calls on prosecutors to drop all remaining charges against the 200+ demonstrators, Legal Observers (LOs) and members of the press who were arrested on Friday, January 20, after thousands of demonstrators […]
FAQ for J20 Arrestees
ATTN: #J20/#DisruptJ20/Inauguration arrestees: Please see these important FAQ page by the DC-NLG Demonstration Support Committee with important contacts, info about next steps in the legal process, and more: dcnlg.wordpress.com/faq-for-jan-20-arrestees
Lawsuit Challenges DC Police Dept’s Unlawful Use of Chemical & “Less Lethal” Weapons, Felony Riot Charges on J20
Above: DC Metro Police kettling protesters at 12th and L St. NW. (Photo: Cynthia Tarana) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 23, 2017 Contact: Tasha Moro, NLG Communications Director (212) 679-5100, ext. 15 | communications@nlg.org WASHINGTON, D.C.— On Friday, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) unlawfully detained and arrested 222 protesters, bystanders, journalists, and NLG Legal Observers while […]
