National Lawyers Guild - Monterey Bay Area
THE NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD is a national non-profit legal and political organization of lawyers, legal workers, law students and jailhouse lawyers. We represent progressive political movements, using the law to protect human rights above property interests and to attain social justice. For more information, visit www.nlg.org, or contact the Monterey Bay Area Chapter at 831-869-2834 or by e-mail at phillipjcrawford831@gmail.com.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Criminal Justice and the November Ballot
In November, Californians will vote on two ballot initiatives which could bring significant changes to the state’s criminal justice system. If approved, Proposition 36 will modify elements of California's "Three Strikes" Law, which was approved by the state's voters in 1994. If Proposition 36 is approved by voters, approximately 3,000 convicted felons who are currently serving life terms under the Three Strikes law, whose third strike conviction was for a nonviolent crime, will be able to petition the court for a reduced sentence. Reducing the sentences of these current prisoners could result in saving the state over $150 million a year. Proposition 34 — also known as the Savings, Accountability, and Full Enforcement for California Act —would convert the sentences of death row inmates to life in prison without the possibility of parole. If passed, Proposition 34 would save taxpayers more than $100 million each year. The money spent keeping convicts on death row would be used to fund investigations of unsolved crimes.
Sponsored by the National Lawyers Guild – Monterey Bay Area Chapter. This event is free and open to the public, but donations are appreciated. Bring a dish or beverage to share and your own place setting, if you can.
For more info, call 831-869-2834.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Glenn Greenwald on "Repulsive Progressive Hypocrisy"
http://www.salon.com/2012/02/08/repulsive_progressive_hypocrisy/singleton/
Monday, February 13, 2012
Punishing Protest, Policing Dissent: What is the Justice System For?
Punishing Protest, Policing Dissent: What is the Justice System For?
This year promises to be another historic year of people calling for change worldwide. Citizens took to the streets for a wide variety of reasons, from the Wisconsin Capitol to D.C., which hosted many actions last year including the highly visible civil disobedience of activists seeking to halt the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline. The resulting mass arrests, totaling over 1,200 by early September, surely played a large role in President Obama’s decision to delay approval of that climate- and water supply-threatening project.
Story continues here: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/02/12-6
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Forum: Reforming the Criminal Justice System
The Monterey County Chapter
of the
American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California
Invites you to
The 2012 Annual Membership Meeting
Saturday, January 21, 2012, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Community Room, Monterey Public Library
625 Pacific Street, Monterey
Program
1:30 p.m. Welcome and Review of 2011 Chapter Activities
Helen Davis, Chapter Chair
1:45 p.m. Forum:
Reforming the Criminal Justice System
Co-sponsored by the local chapters of
the ACLU, the NAACP and the National Lawyers Guild
Introduction: Phillip Crawford, Chapter Board Member,
President, Monterey Bay Area Chapter, NLG
Panel Members:
Kelli Evans, Associate Director, ACLU-NC
Mel Mason, President, Monterey County Branch, NAACP
Steven Rease, 1st Vice President, Monterey Bay Area NLG
2:45 p.m. Audience Questions and Answers
3:00 p.m. Social and Refreshments
3:15 p.m. Election of 2012 Board of Directors
3:30 p.m. Adjournment
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Occupy Wall Street Legal Hotline
PLEASE NOTE: THE LEGAL HOTLINE FOR OCCUPY WALL STREET HAS A NEW NUMBER. 831-373-3327. The legal hotline is provided by the Monterey Bay Area Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. If you have problems with the police, call the hotline and we will do our best to find you an attorney who can provide you with free legal assistance. The new number is 831-373-3327.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Guild is occupied with protecting protesters’ rights
BY ALINE REYNOLDS
Throughout Occupy Wall Street’s more than five weeks of demonstrations, legal witnesses have been monitoring the activity of both the Police Department and the protesters to keep tabs on who might be violating the law.
Sporting bright green caps and known as legal observers, they are volunteers for the National Lawyers Guild. They are charged with observing O.W.S. activity in hopes of deterring police abuse.
http://www.thevillager.com/villager_445/guildisoccupied.html
Monday, October 31, 2011
Two Valuable Trainings for Occupy Activists
The Monterey Bay Area Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild is offering two valuable trainings to Occupy Wall Street Activists this Saturday, November 5.
These trainings will be offered at Monterey College of Law, 100 Colonel Durham Street, Seaside, CA, beginning at 9:00am (sharp).
Know Your Rights
This training covers all of the basic legal information for interactions with police. Topics range from questioning to searches to safety. The interactive format allows participants to explore their options in realistic settings.