Mass Chapter Activism

The members of the Mass Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild are active in many ways in our community. We encourage any NLG member, or anyone interested in becoming a member, to get involved in any of our committees (see below), law student activities, or special volunteer opportunities. See also our Events section for upcoming lectures, meetings and actions.

Current Campaigns

Campaign Aganist New MBTA Searches
In October, Gorvernor Romney ordered the MBTA to conduct random searches of T riders' bags. According to the search policy, the MBTA police can search any bags that belong to passengers entering subway or commuter rail stations. The Guild is conducting an educational campaign against the searches. Our volunteers distribute a button "I DO NOT CONSENT TO A SEARCH" and a Know Your Rights flyer with information about T riders constitutional rights. Anyone who has been searched or witnessed searches is asked to call the Guild office (617-227-7335). We are documenting all searches.

Fight for a Civilian Review Board
During the campaign against the use of less-lethal weapons by the Boston police, the Guild was stressing the importance of having an independent civilian board to review complaints against Boston police officers. In the spring of 2005, former Police Commissioner O'Toole turned to Northeastern's Institute on Race & Justice to do a study of review boards in other cities in the U.S. In December 2005, the Institute submitted its report and recommendations to Mayor Manino's office; however, the Mayor's office refuses to make the report public. The Guild is working with several organizations to follow up on this development and push for a Boston Civilian Review Board. If you are interested in working on this issue, please call the office at 617-227-7335.

Detention Working Group
In response to implementation of special registration requirements of immigrants from target countries, FBI interviews of Iraqi immigrants, and mass deportations of Middle-Eastern immigrants, many immigrants are currently in detention. We have been interviewing immigration detainees to find out who is being held and why. On June 29, 2005 we issued a report on our findings:  "Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor . . . A Report on Due Process Issues in the Handling of Immigrant Detainees in Massachusetts." Volunteers are needed to work on the second phase of this campaign. Call the office to volunteer: 617-227-7335.

Recent Campaigns

Against Police Use of "Less-Lethal" Weapons
Following the death of Victoria Snelgrove from a police shot pepper-ball gun, the Guild joined Save Our Civil Liberties and the Boston Area Faculty Group on Public Issues to advocate for a ban on the use of such weapons until they are proven to be non-lethal, police are properly trained in their use, and the police agree not to use them for crowd control. We gathered signatures on a petition and held meetings with public officials on this issue.

Support for Equal Marriage
The Mass Chapter signed onto an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs in the equal marriage case Goodridge v. DPH and presented testimony before the Joint Judiciary Committee on October 23, 2003 in support of equal marriage and civil union legislation. On November 18, 2003 the SJC ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marry in Massachusetts.

Anti-War Activities
The Mass Defense Committee trains and provides legal observers for anti-war and other demonstrations. Call the office to volunteer as a legal observer or attorney: 617-227-7335. Also check http://justicewithpeace.org for upcoming demonstrations.

Legal Response to 9/11

1. We have issued a statement expressing our concern.
2. We wrote a letter of opposition to Attorney General Ashcroft's Eavesdropping Rule.
3. We educate victims of discrimination or harassment about their rights regarding the INS, the FBI, and general discrimination law.
4. We also provide speakers on the issues of a just and lawful response to the attacks of September 11 and on the clamping down on civil liberties in the U.S.
5. Our members at Greater Boston Legal Services worked on an Immigration Human Rights Documentation Project.
6. We conduct educational events with immigrant communities about Know Your Rights with regard to INS and other federal and state agents.

Ongoing Projects

• Mass Dissent
  We produce a newsletter nearly every month, each with a different focus. Please contact Urszula Masny-Latos (617-227-7335 or nlgmass-director@igc.org) if you would like to help in any facet of production (writing, editing, coordinating, mailing, etc.)
  
  
• Street Law Clinics
  Lawyers and law students coordinate workshops for community members on various topics, including landlord/tenant dispute, workers rights, civil disobedience, immigration law, and stop and search. Please contact the Street Law Clinic coordinator at nlgmass-slc@igc.org or 617-723-4330 to participate.
  
  
• Mentorship Lunches
  We connect law students and Guild lawyers for lunch (paid for by the lawyer), to give students a chance to meet one-on-one with an activist attorney working in a legal area of interest to the student. Contact the office at 617-227-7335 or nlgmass-director@igc.org to get a volunteer form for attorneys and a request form for students.

Active Committees

• Civil Disobedience Defense Committee
  Members of this committee provide advice about legal aspects of civil disobedience, serve as legal observers at demonstrations, and represent political protesters at legal hearings. Contact Urszula Masny-Latos at 617-227-7335 or nlgmass-director@igc.org to volunteer.
  
• Immigration and Human Rights Committee
  Members of the Guild prepared an informational brochure for criminal lawyers on the immigration consequences of criminal convictions. For more information, please contact Ilana Greenstein (617-482-4500 or igreenstein@kof-law.com).
  
• Annual Testimonial Dinner Committee
  The committee organizes our biggest fund-raising event of the year, a gala dinner in May honoring outstanding lawyers, legal workers, and law students. We need volunteers to work with this committee; please contact the office at 617-227-7335 or nlgmass-director@igc.org to volunteer.

Coalitions

• Jobs With Justice (jwj.org)
  The Chapter works in coalition with Jobs with Justice on issues related to workers' rights. The coalition consists of labor, community, religious and constituency organizations fighting together for economic justice.
• Coalition for Justice
  The coalition began during the Ashcroft nomination and continues now working on federal judicial nominations.
  
• Boston Global Action Network (BGAN) (bostonglobalaction.net)
  A network of activists working to fight against the negative impact of globalization.
  
• United With Justice for Peace (www.justicewithpeace.org)
  Coalition organized in response to events of 9/11.