As a result of our latest (and third) lawsuit against the Boston Police Department under the Massachusetts Freedom of Information Act, we recently received a list of every complaint against BPD officers from 2011 to present. Each complaint provides the officer’s name, the date and description of the complaint, and the disposition.
Thanks to five undergraduate students from Harvard College, … Read more>>
Mass Dissent – Litigation Committee Update
02/15/2024
The Year In Review for the NLG Mass Defense Committee
02/15/2024
by Josh Raisler-Cohn and Jeff Feuer
Over the last 12 months the volunteer lawyers and law students of our Mass Defense Committee (MDC) have once again risen to meet the needs of the on-going movements for racial, economic, gender, and climate justice. We continued our longstanding work across the state providing trainings, supplying trained Legal Observers™, representing people in court, … Read more>>
Chris DiOrio – NLG-Mass Chapter’s Litigation Committee’s New Staff Attorney
01/16/2024
Chris DiOrio has been on the front lines of fighting for individual rights for over thirty years. Chris started his career as a Legal Aid Society public defender in New York City, then moved to Massachusetts where he has been a trial attorney, as well as a civil rights and liberties and constitutional law professor, educating students from 8 to … Read more>>
The Massachusetts Chapter of the NLG Calls for Immediate Ceasefire in Gaza
12/15/2023
The Massachusetts Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) mourns the tremendous loss of life in Gaza, the West Bank, and Israel over the past month. We grieve the lives of those already lost, wish for freedom for those in captivity, and remain committed to a future where every life is recognized as precious, and all people live in freedom … Read more>>
Testimony of Judy Somberg on behalf of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild in opposition to Bill H.1558, An Act relative to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism
12/15/2023
December 5, 2023
To Chairman James Eldridge, Chairman Michael Day, and members of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary.
I am writing to ask you to oppose Bill H.1558, An Act relative to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism.
I am submitting this testimony on behalf of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. For over 80 … Read more>>
Using Machine Learning to Illuminate Patterns in BPD Complaints Data
12/15/2023
During the Fall 2023 semester, the NLG-MA Litigation Committee partnered with the Boston University Spark! program on a project to use machine learning to analyze complaints against the Boston Police Department. Spark! is an interdisciplinary program for undergraduates combining artificial intelligence, data science, and investigative journalism approaches to help organizations with real-world data projects. This project represents one facet of … Read more>>
Mass Dissent – AJTF Update
12/15/2023
ABORTION JUSTICE TASK FORCE CALL TO ACTION!
NLG-Mass’ Abortion Justice Task Force (AJTF) was established in response to the Dobbs decision. The AJTF is currently researching the most pressing legal questions for those seeking an abortion, helping with accessing an abortion, and performing abortions in Massachusetts. Additionally, AJTF is researching the added legal concerns for more vulnerable populations, such as … Read more>>
UMass Dartmouth Law School
12/15/2023
This year, our student chapter has hosted a wide range of events. In the spring semester, we hosted a movie screening “Philadelphia” to help raise awareness about employment discrimination against LGBTQ individuals. We also hosted a panel on the “School to Prison Pipeline” where we brought in speakers from Massachusetts Advocates for Children, CPCS Youth Advocacy Division, Citizens for Juvenile … Read more>>
Suffolk Law School
12/15/2023
Suffolk University Law School’s NLG Chapter has been busy organizing and advocating this year. The goal was to bolster our ranks and try to build out our operational capacity. This goal has been largely achieved and we’re hoping to turn our attention towards even bigger and bolder ideas.
Our semester started with Disorientation event in September. We had the opportunity … Read more>>
Northeastern Law School
12/15/2023
The NLG student chapter at Northeastern has been quite busy these past months. Throughout last September, NLG members at Northeastern participated in Election Observing as the greater Northeastern community voted on a Graduate Worker Union; on September 30th, our members attended the NLG Student Brunch hosted by the NLG-Mass Chapter at Andala Cafe in Cambridge; we participated in the MA … Read more>>
Harvard Law School
12/15/2023
Harvard Law School NLG is going strong, with an executive board of 7 students and two dozen students who have attended our general body meetings.
In the Fall 2023 semester, HLS NLG recruited 36 students and community members for NLG Legal Observer training, conducted by NLG-Mass Chapter Co-Chair Melinda Drew. Our members participated as Legal Observers in over 20 protest … Read more>>
Boston University Law School
12/15/2023
Boston University chapter of the National Lawyer Guild has been very busy this year. At our general meeting we planned what we wanted to do this last semester.
In addition to hosting the NLG Disorientation event for first year students, we also organized a “Know Your Rights” training for BU students, held a phone bank for Gaza, and our members … Read more>>
INDEPENDANT ORGANIZING NETWORK (ION)
12/15/2023
We’re having a big organizing committee meeting on Friday, where we will hash out all of our plans to wrap up 2023 and hit the ground running with tangible next steps for 2024 (including ironing out our budget).
I would say the main things to share for I.O.N. this month are:
We’re seeking attorneys, law students, and organizers who are pro-union… Read more>>Fighting for Police Accountability:
12/15/2023
2023 Retrospective and 2024 Agenda
Mass NLG fought for police accountability through four public records-based projects in 2023—three of which will continue in 2024. The three continuing projects are comprised of two public records issues about notorious Boston protests involving right-wing extremists and wounded citizens, as well as Mass NLG’s broader inquiry into all complaints against the Boston Police … Read more>>
State of the Guild – Mass Chapter – 2023
12/15/2023
As always, the Mass Chapter of the NLG has had a busy year. With the support of our members, we have achieved several goals and are making progress on others. See details below.
Our active Committees have been continually busy. The Mass Defense Committee volunteer lawyers have provided legal advice to dozens of activist groups and free representation to arrested … Read more>>
Stop Cop City: Conversation with Local Activist
11/20/2023
Imagine enjoying yourself at a music festival with your friends and comrades, and then cops swarm in and start randomly arresting people without any probable cause. What was the charge – domestic terrorism!
This is what Alex experienced when he went to Atlanta to stand in solidarity with fellow activists and organizers opposing Cop City.
Prior to this gathering of … Read more>>
MASS DEFENSE COMMITTEE
11/20/2023
Since mid-October, the NLG Mass Defense Committee has been working non-stop to assist local political activists, students, health care professionals, and interfaith organizations in providing them with everything they need, so they could continue their fight for ceasefire in Gaza and against the war.
Legal Observers served at over 30 actions related to the war on Gaza and the crisis … Read more>>
MASS DEFENSE COMMITTEE EVENT
11/20/2023
DEFENDERS, UNITE!
On Thursday, October 19, the NLG-Mass Chapter’s Mass Defense Committee (MDC) welcomed nearly 40 NLG members and allies – lawyers, legal workers, law students, and activists – to its first ever “Defenders, Unite” social gathering at Beantown Pub in Boston.
The event provided a great opportunity for the MDC members to chat and discuss the Committee’s work with … Read more>>
540+ Legal Community Members Demand Action To Stop Racist and Unlawful Targeting of Palestine Advocates
11/07/2023
The NLG-Mass Chapter is among nearly 550 signatories (legal professionals, firms, and organizations) on a call to stop targeting and attacks of Palestine advocates.
Read the Press Release and Full Coalition Letter Here
Palestine Legal continues to receive an unprecedented number of intakes that need referrals, and they especially need attorneys with expertise in employment matters, criminal defense, and civil rights, … Read more>>
Boston University School of Law Students and Alumni Stand with Palestine
10/28/2023
October 16, 2023
“It is easy to blur the truth with a simple linguistic trick: start your story from ‘Secondly.’” Mourid Barghouti
This “secondly” hovers over Dean Onwuachi-Willig’s response to the events of the past ten days, isolating these events from the context of over 75 years of brutal settler colonialism. The response denounces the violence of resistance while leaving … Read more>>
Student Debt Crisis – Panel at Suffolk Law School
10/19/2023
Panelists (left to right): Natalie Higgins (State Rep.), Max Page (President of Mass. Teachers Association), Eileen Connor (Director of Litigation, Project on Predatory Student Lending), Alyssa (student borrower), Renée Landers (Professor of Law & Faculty Director at Suffolk Law School); Moderators (center, left to right): Michell Fallon (Suffolk Law School student) & Tim Scalona (President of… Read more>>
NLG Student Brunch
10/16/2023
NLG students met this past September to plan some exciting projects over brunch! A small group of students and members met at Andala Coffee House in Cambridge to enjoy some food and tea. We discussed some exciting new projects for the next year, brainstormed ways to expand our social media presence, and discussed ways to get more involved with local … Read more>>
Mass Dissent – Mass Defense Committee Update
10/16/2023
In the midst of daily heartbreaking news, we supported several powerful Palestine Solidarity actions this month.
On Monday, 10/9, our Legal Observers served at a rally and vigil in front of Cambridge City Hall, attended by people who are concerned with the decades-long plight of Palestinians.
On Thursday, 10/12, also in Cambridge, several activists chained themselves to the doors of … Read more>>
