by Noah Meister
The COVID-19 crisis has created a Catch-22 for activists and organizers: the more dangerous the virus makes in-person actions, the more necessary they become. As a result of the pandemic, one of the first big concerns I noticed amongst activists in Massachusetts was a concern for people imprisoned or detained by the police, and the lack of … Read more>>
June has been a very busy month for the NLG-Mass Chapter. Despite the pandemic, our members have been working on many different front providing communities in Massachusetts with legal and political help.
Here’s a report from Jeff Feuer, member of the NLG Board, Mass Defense Committee, and Litigation Committee, on the NLG work he been involved in:
• Work together … Read more>>
The death of George Floyd has sparked protests against police brutality and the all too frequent loss of black people’s lives at the hands of police. The NLG-Mass Chapter stands in firm support and solidarity with all those who have taken to the streets to bring one, loud and unwavering voice in protest against police brutality and oppression!
The National Lawyers Guild-Massachusetts Chapter stands in support of the Ordinance which would ban the use of facial recognition technology in Boston. We are firm believers that the people should be able to walk the streets without worry of being identified and tracked. These technologies undermine our privacy and can be used to track political protesters or anyone who would … Read more>>
May 19, 2020
NEW YORK—Anti-Palestinian activist and serial litigant David Abrams has voluntarily agreed to dismiss a lawsuit against the National Lawyers Guild (NLG), filed after NLG refused to publish Abrams’ advertisement indicating that Gush Etzion is part of Israel. Gush Etzion is an illegal settlement on occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank.
“We’re pleased to end this time-consuming … Read more>>
Exciting news! Our very own Deb Wilmer has lead the NLG-Mass student chapter at UMASS Dartmouth to winning the Most Improved Student Organization of the Year Award! Congratulations to Deb and to the student chapter!
Nearly 200 of you responded to the National Office survey about a digital #Law4thePeople convention this year—thank you! Based on your helpful feedback, we’re thrilled to announce that the 2020 #Law4thePeople Convention will take place online September 21-October 4!
While we’re disappointed that our usual in-person convening won’t be possible this year due to the pandemic, we’re encouraged by our … Read more>>
Northeastern Law students Chase Childress, Christine Farolan, and recent grad Alex Stein described at our April Zoom Happy Hour how they came together under the auspices of the their NLG chapter and the NUSL Criminal Law Project to take an in-depth look at how campus police operate, what is the legal framework, and what exactly are they doing. … Read more>>
Your NLG-Mass Chapter continues to provide unique legal and political support in this time of crisis to the underserved populations that are most affected by the pandemic:
• Our Mass Defense Committee is providing Legal Observers and pro bono legal assistance to activists participating in “in-car” protests, risking arrest in acts of civil resistance while seeking the release of people … Read more>>
“Who is Protected and Who is Served?” is a report put together by Northeastern University’s School of Law’s Criminal Justice Project. In brief, the paper outlines a discrepancy between the broad exercise of authority wielded by campus police departments and the oversight of their conduct as required by law.
Below is an excerpt from the report’s introduction:
“Police violence has … Read more>>
The National Lawyers Guild Student Chapter at UMass School of Law was recently honored with the “Most Improved Student Organization of the Year” award. The group has held several fundraisers, hosted many excellent speakers, organized a group of students to attend the Robert M. Cover Retreat and trained several legal observers, raising awareness of the Guild and helping to educate … Read more>>
NLG’s 2020 #Law4thePeople convention was originally scheduled to take place in Detroit this year but due to the ongoing health crisis, it will be making the transition online!
However, to make this event as successful as possible, we need your input! So, please visit the link below and complete the survey before next Wednesday, April 22, 2020.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdLo1wvpVQAt5u_uhs7BATyGTyc9PDOJl0nQzr7_0MGzVqiag/viewform
We look … Read more>>
Friends and Comrades. As we go to press, the Coronavirus has changed everything, including the rights of tenants and homeowners.
On March 22, 2020, as a result of mass protest, the president signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES ACT’). The CARES ACT declares a moratorium (120 days after March 27, 2020) on evictions and foreclosures in … Read more>>
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, good people are still busy fighting for a better world! Yesterday, Thursday March 26, our comrades from several organizations were in Bristol fighting to free all those who are in ICE detention during the COVID 19 crisis. The protest was carried out in cars, so the NLG Legal Observers – Makis Antzoulatos & Matthew Shepard – … Read more>>
On Thursday, March 5, 2020, Patricia Cantor, Jeff Feuer, and Lee Goldstein served as NLG Legal Observers as 40-50 members and supporters of City Life/Vida Urbana staged a sit-in in Boston Mayor Walsh’s office to demand a meeting with him to discuss the totally inadequate amount of affordable housing to be developed and built at Suffolk Downs over the next … Read more>>
Unfortunately, due to mounting concerns and increased preventative measures being taken for the Coronavirus (COVID-19) The Northeast Regional Conference is Cancelled. The conference will be rescheduled for sometime this Fall. Please be on the lookout for updates surrounding this event.
Event Description:
NLG members & friends from all over the northeast will gather to deepen our connections with each other … Read more>>
NLG PUBLIC RECORDS LAWSUIT AGAINST BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT PRODUCES EVIDENCE OF WIDESPREAD SURVEILLANCE OF ACTIVISTS
Boston, January 30, 2020 – In late August 2019, the National Lawyers Guild-Mass Chapter (NLG) settled its public records lawsuit against the Boston Police Department (BPD) and Boston Regional Intelligence Center (BRIC), our local fusion center. The lawsuit was filed in 2017 on behalf … Read more>>
On Monday, January 27, the NLG-Mass Chapter Development and Fundraising Committee members sat down together for dinner and to discuss the roadmap for 2020. They discussed new projects, strategies for chapter growth and expansion as well as the future of political actions that the chapter would be taking part in. Needless to say, this is going to be another exciting … Read more>>
Last Friday, December 6, NLG-Mass Chapter members and lawyers gathered at Encuentro 5 to celebrate a long year of hard fought cases in pursuit of justice for the people. The evening was lively and all those present enjoyed good food, drink and company. At the end of the night, the annual fundraising raffle was held and winners enjoyed prizes like … Read more>>
November’s NLG Happy Hour was lead by Mario Paredes. As the Bart J. Gordon Fellow/Staff Attorney at Mass Law Reform Institute and Prisoners’ Legal Services, Mario Paredes was able to create his dream job combining his interest in immigrant rights, his legal skills, and his desire to engage with community activists. Beginning his work, Mario is assessing the needs of … Read more>>
It is always a great sign when we sit to write our end of the year update at the Mass Defense Committee and cannot keep straight all the incredible things the MDC has done over the year. Activists and organizers around Massachusetts have been involved in bold and energetic actions, fighting against oppression, and for the liberation of of all … Read more>>
Being in the South for this year’s #Law4thePeople Convention was a fitting reflection point on how the NLG’s involvement in the Civil Rights Movement of the 60s still resonates with members and supporters alike. However, it was clear from the convention’s beginning that the NLG as a national force and its regional offices are in a different landscape from that … Read more>>
NLG-Mass Chapter Happy Hour: ICE Detention Centers
Join us on Wednesday, November 13th for a discussion about ICE detention centers in Massachusetts and the work being done to help those suffering in custody.
Mario Paredes, Bart J. Fellow/Staff Attorney at the Mass Law Reform Institute and Prisoner’s Legal Services and will lead the discussion and go into depth about … Read more>>
