The Resistance Committee and its subcommittees continue to conduct important work to protect immigrants and undocumented people, the LGBTQ+ community, and our right to free speech. In just six months the Committee has seen its subcommittees blossom into their own entities, each taking on a range of tasks within their respective areas of law. The Committee hopes to see sustained effort as we continue to push back against the unconstitutionality of the Trump administration.
The Speech, Suppression, and Communication subcommittee is currently brainstorming around a potential lawsuit seeking an injunction to prevent ICE from removing people from the state before their initial hearing on First Amendment grounds. To aid this project, the subcommittee is seeking immigration attorneys for insight into what due process looks like in immigration court and to provide representation of clients if the suit becomes a class action. The subcommittee is also working to prepare for ongoing protests against ICE and the Trump administration being met with force through Legal Observer trainings, staffing the Mass Defense Hotline, and distributing safety materials among members of the Guild and allies.
The Trans Community Support subcommittee is setting up an expansive Know Your Rights presentation and seeking attorneys to do legal research surrounding it. The subcommittee is also performing legislative tracking to keep up with the government’s attacks on trans rights. The tracking will be expanded to include legislation attacking free speech and immigrant rights.
The Immigration subcommittee is continuing its partnership with MIRA to conduct Know Your Rights trainings, which has proven to be an effective capacity-building project. The subcommittee has also trained several members to file habeas corpus petitions in anticipation of out-of-state detentions. The subcommittee is exploring a partnership with PAIR to conduct interviews at detention centers and has been strengthening the Mass Defense Hotline through volunteer training and staffing. Members are seeking ways to share the work of the subcommittee with the local community and will conduct another flyering drive of Know Your Rights resources and safety tips and may also offer trainings to workplaces. The biggest challenge the subcommittee is currently facing is the overwhelm faced by immigration lawyers needed to inform projects related to the complex immigration legal system.
After six months of hard work, the Resistance Committee has proven to be an important venue for the Guild to take on new projects to meet existing needs as well as a tool for organizing and flexibility. The Committee allows the Guild to apply resources to new avenues and allows its members to explore their interests and get involved in advocacy outside of the courtroom. The Resistance Committee’s next meeting will be Wednesday July 16th at 6 pm where the Committee will continue to explore new projects, reflect on the work that has been done and mobilize towards the work that can be done. Please reach out to Emma Knight at e.reece.knight@gmail.com if you would like to join our efforts!
