National Lawyers Guild Fights for the Right to Occupy

[marmar]

from In These Times:



National Lawyers Guild Fights for the Right to Occupy
When protesters land in court, a network of volunteer lawyers defend them.

BY Allison Kilkenny


Soon after the Occupy movement launched in Manhattan last September, the neon green hats of National Lawyers Guild (NLG) members became ubiquitous. As Occupy encampments proliferated across the country, volunteer lawyers in more than 70 locations came forward to bear witness to thousands of arrests.

Authorities around the country have targeted Occupy protesters with selective enforcement of the law. In November, demonstrators were evicted from camps in New York, Denver, Portland and a score of other locations. And new anti-camping ordinances passed since January have been used to break up the remaining winter encampments in cities like Charlotte, N.C., and Honolulu. Organizations like the NLG, the American Civil Liberties Union and Public Citizen have helped Occupy to challenge eviction orders and oppose new “anti-Occupy” laws.

Where the NLG differs from other legal organizations is its close collaboration with protest movements to document arrests and defend arrestees. Founded in 1937 as a progressive alternative to the American Bar Association, the Guild established a legal observer program in 1968 to defend Vietnam War protesters who had taken over Columbia University buildings. The same year, the NLG organized to defend demonstrators arrested at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The organization has since been on the front lines against the repression of activists in the environmental justice, antiwar and civil rights movements.

“Organized dissent in America would be impossible without [the Guild],” says independent journalist and Occupy activist John Knefel, who was held for 36 hours after being arrested December 12 for the crime of filming police activity during a protest in New York. “As a journalist without NYPD-issued credentials, I know that I could get arrested at any time while I’m covering Occupy. Knowing that I have lawyers who will work pro bono on my case makes my job significantly less stressful.” ...................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/12853/national_lawyers_guild_fights_for_the_right_to_occupy

[xchrom]

1. my thanks to all of them