With the federal government calling anyone and everyone a “domestic terrorist”, it is imperative that our communities have a resource at their ready to deal with potential government interactions. That is why the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) is releasing an updated “Know Your Risks” (KYR) booklet for people across the U.S. This classic guide, last updated in 2015, informs readers of … Read more>>
NLG & Zalkind Law Sue UMass Amherst for Suppression of Student’s Speech – Student Reinstated!
02/20/2026
In January 2026, the NLG-Massachusetts Chapter, together with co-counsel Zalkind Duncan and Bernstein LLP, filed a lawsuit in Hampshire Superior Court on behalf of Kivlighan de Montebello. de Montebello is a UMass Amherst student who was suspended for one year after peacefully protesting Raytheon at a campus career fair.
On September 29, 2025, de Montebello and fellow members of Students … Read more>>
NLG and Zalkind Law Sue UMass Amherst for Suspending Student Who Protested Raytheon at Campus Career Fair
01/28/2026
AMHERST, January 27, 2026 — The National Lawyers Guild-Massachusetts Chapter and Zalkind Duncan and Bernstein LLP filed a lawsuit in Hampshire Superior Court on behalf of University of Massachusetts Amherst student Kivlighan de Montebello who was suspended after peacefully protesting Raytheon’s presence at a campus career fair last fall.
On September 29, 2025, de Montebello and fellow students gathered to … Read more>>
On ICE’s Killing of Renee Nicole Good
01/27/2026
The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) and the NLG Minnesota Chapter mourn the killing of Renee Nicole Good at the hands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and condemn the unchecked violence of ICE agents across the country.
To the people of Minneapolis. To the people of the Twin Cities. To the people of Minnesota.
Once again the eyes of the … Read more>>
2026 Annual Meeting
01/23/2026
On January 21, the Chapter held its Annual Meeting at which we conducted elections of the new Board of Directors and Chapter Officers and heard from representatives of our committees on the work they do – Jon Cubetus reported on the Litigation Committee, Josh Raisler Cohn – on the Mass Defense Committee, Urszula Masny-Latos – on the Legal Observer program, … Read more>>
Podcasters Refuse to Vet Sources for Their Stand on Israel’s Actions in Palestine
01/23/2026
Mark Stern
The Ruderman Family Foundation sued a Colorado media company and its owner under federal law, Section 1981, and two state laws, claiming Defendants discriminated against it by refusing to contract with it because of its race (Jew). The Defendants had done a pilot podcast for the Plaintiff, fully aware it was a Jewish entity and aware that it … Read more>>
On the Definition of Antisemitism
01/23/2026
Mark Stern
The Massachusetts Legislative Special Commission on Combatting Antisemitism issued its report and therein relied on the IHRA definition of antisemitism for most of its conclusions and recommendations. That is a serious mistake, as there are many problems with the IHRA definition of antisemitism.
One frequently leveled charge is that it defines all criticism of the state of Israel … Read more>>
NLG Happy Hour, November 2025
01/07/2026
On November 20, NLG law students, legal workers, and lawyers gathered together to share appetizers and beverages with old and new fellow Guilders! We hope to see you at the next one!
At UMass’s flagship campus, concern grows over patterns of pro-Palestine repression
12/19/2025
Student Kivlighan de Montebello faces suspension after protesting for Palestine on campus, while some activists also raised concerns about the end of an Arabic language program
Kivlighan de Montebello speaks at a press conference about pro-Palestine repression at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Credit: Western Mass People’s Tribunal/YouTube
When Kivlighan de Montebello started as a freshman at the … Read more>>
2025 NLG Holiday Party
12/15/2025
On December 5, NLG members gathered at the NLG Office for an evening of community and holiday celebration for our Holiday Party! We are incredibly grateful to everyone who joined us for food and wine, and for each person that participated and contributed to our raffle drawing! It was lovely seeing everyone come together to share in the holiday spirit.
2025 NLG Sustainer Fall Gathering
11/17/2025
On October 30th, NLG staff gathered in Brookline with sustainers and supporters of our Chapter for our annual fall event. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who was able to join us for an evening of camaraderie, food, drinks, and riveting conversation!
Northeastern University School of Law: “Free Her” Campaign Against New Prison for Women
11/17/2025
On Wednesday, November 5, leaders from the MA FreeHer campaign, led by Families for Justice as Healing and the National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls, came to speak with NUSL students about their work resisting a 350 million women’s prison project in MA and their concurrent efforts to free women through existing (clemency, parole, diversion) and … Read more>>
UMass Dartmouth: Community Care for SNAP Recipients
11/14/2025
Students at UMass Dartmouth worked to organize an emergency food drive in response to the Trump Administration’s decision to withhold funding for SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) at the beginning of November amidst the government shutdown.
Beginning on November 1st, it was unclear whether Massachusetts would be receiving all, some, or none of the nearly $240 Million/Month that our state needs … Read more>>
New England Law School: “Free Her” Campaign Against New Prison for Women
11/14/2025
New England Law | Boston recently welcomed volunteers from Families for Justice as Healing (FJAH), along with Fulbright Scholar and CORI initiative director Professor David Siegel and Professor Eliot Tracz, Clemency Advisor to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, for a panel discussion on prison abolition and criminal justice reform.
Families for Justice as Healing is a Roxbury-based, statewide organization led by … Read more>>
Muslim Commission
11/14/2025
On Oct. 29, 2025, Mark Stern testified at the State House on behalf of the NLG in support of a bill to create a first-in-the-nation Muslim commission. Mark joined legislators, educators, faith leaders, students, and advocates, all of whom called for stronger representation, protections, and recognition for Massachusetts Muslims.
The bill was previously filed by Sen. Jamie Eldridge and … Read more>>
What Does “Free Tibet” Actually Mean and Should Progressives Be Advocating It?
11/12/2025
Mark Stern
Tibet, known as Xizang, has a long history of being both part of China and semi-autonomous until 1959. For short periods of time it was entirely independent. Until 1959 Tibet was a theocratic state ruled by the Dalai Lamas, with its own unique government, religion, language, laws, and customs. Tibet was a theocratic state ruled by the Dalai … Read more>>
NLG Happy Hour, October 2025
11/12/2025
On October 16th, a number of NLG law students, legal workers, and lawyers gathered together to share appetizers and beverages with old and new fellow Guilders.… Read more>>
Upcoming Panel Events on Opposing a New Women’s Prison & on Ending Mass Incarceration
10/29/2025
NLG-Mass members and allies are invited to attend a series of panel discussions on the proposed building of a new prison for women and on mass incarceration and how to end it.
On Wednesday, November 5, from 11:45am – 1pm, the Northeastern School of Law Chapter of the NLG will host a panel on the new prison for women and the … Read more>>
Mass Defense Committee Report
10/15/2025
Recently, in a major escalation of the local criminalization of dissent, a group of Palestine solidarity marchers were hit with felony charges of inciting a riot/promotion of anarchy. During a march at the beginning of October near the Boston Commons, a group of Boston police officers swarmed a young marcher they suspected of vandalism. This rapid escalated a rally and … Read more>>
Landmark Settlement in Diggs v. Mici: Addressing Systematic Violence at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center
10/15/2025
Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts
In May, Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts (PLS) and co-counsel Hogan Lovells reached a proposed approximately $7 million settlement in Diggs v. Mici, a federal class action lawsuit challenging systematic violence and racial discrimination at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center (SBCC). It is likely that the Court will grant final approval to the settlement in the … Read more>>
Why Massachusetts Must Reject the $360 Million Prison Expansion at MCI-Framingham
10/15/2025
Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts
Governor Maura Healey’s administration recently announced a $360 million plan to renovate MCI-Framingham, framing it as an investment in rehabilitation and correctional innovation. While the stated intentions may sound progressive, this proposal represents a dangerous step backward for criminal justice reform in Massachusetts—and advocates are sounding the alarm.
What Incarcerated Women Actually FacePLS represents … Read more>>
As Time Goes By
10/15/2025
Carlo P. Belloli, MCI-Norfolk
And the days and weeks just fly
I sit in my room and I just cry
But the truth is the truth
And no matter how it seems
I’m lost in loneliness and indigo day dreams.
And it all just seems
So very unreal
Cause no one really knows exactly how I feel
But my hope … Read more>>
Life
10/15/2025
Howard B. Brown, Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center
Life is here to be wisely used,
Not wasted, nor heedlessly abused.
Life is here to be filled with love,
Given freely like the flight of a dove.
Life is here to be filled with joy,
Not discarded like a broken toy.
Life is here to be for helping others,
This we learn from … Read more>>
