The Chicago Legal Observer Program was proud to support the nearly two thousand people resisting the Muslim Ban at O’Hare the nights of January 28 and 29 with the presence of a dozen Legal Observers.

 

The Chicago NLG also wants to highlight the work and presence of the Arab American Action Network, Jewish Voice for Peace-Chicago, and Northern Illinois Justice for Our Neighbors.

We salute all the attorneys, interpreters, & legal workers who generously volunteered to help people impacted by the Muslim Ban.

You can email Chicago.LO.Program(a)gmail.com to get involved with the NLG Chicago Legal Observer Program.

Our Mass Defense Committee and NLG Chicago Legal Observer Program volunteers were out in force January 20 and 21, 2017 to support people in the streets protesting Trump’s agenda. For future protests and rallies, read and share these tips by Charlene Carruthers of BYP 100 generated by Law for Black Lives, and write down the legal support contacts in your city.

In Chicago, if you have information about someone arrested, remember to please call our hotline at 312-913-0039 and press “0” when the voicemail answers.

We tracked a total of 15 arrested the night of January 20. Eleven people were released that night. Several were in police custody at CPD 18th Dist. (Larrabee & Division), and at least one at CPD 1st Dist. (18th & State).

Of the 3 people who were in custody, 1 had bond court January 21 at 1:30pm at 26th & California and were represented by NLG volunteer attorneys. They were given a $1,600 bond, the other arrestee was released without monetary bond. One other arrestee was held in CPD custody under investigation, but was released w/o monetary bond. Everyone whose name we had was accounted for.

Many thanks to the Chicago Community Bond Fund who posted the $1,600 bond of the final Chicago J20 protestor.

For news on the J20 protests in Washington D.C., check out:

Lawsuit Challenges DC Police Dept’s Unlawful Use of Chemical & “Less Lethal” Weapons, Felony Riot Charges on J20

Earlier this month, two NLG Chicago Legal Observer Program volunteers were proud to support leaders from the American Indian Center – Chicago and others in saying #noDAPL in Illinois! The pipeline is not yet complete in Illinois. Here is an article about the two arrests that occurred at that protest in Southern Illinois.

You can read more about it, here.

Photo by Adam Blaszkiewicz Photography.

We’re delighted to share that 15 #stopITOA and 5 #noDAPL arrestees’ cases were dismissed today at two separate court calls! They were represented by three of our Mass Defense Committee volunteer attorneys. If you are an attorney interested in supporting social movements through providing criminal defense assistance, please contact our Mass Defense Coordinator by emailing nlg.chi.crimdefense(a)gmail.com.

The Illinois Tactical Officers Association (ITOA) held its 29th annual conference, a five day long SWAT training and weapons expo on October 9th – 13th, 2016 at the Stonegate Conference and Banquet Center in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, just one hour outside of Chicago. The notoriously brutal and racist Chicago Police Department has a history of collaborating with ITOA for tactical training, and ITOA has a long-standing relationship with the Cook County Department of Homeland Security.

StopITOA protesters locked down Michigan & Wacker to oppose the militarization of police in the shadow Trump Tower. NLG Chicago also provided jail support and monitored the release all arrestees with volunteer attorneys at the jailhouse.

Earlier this week, two of our member attorneys and a third NLG Chicago Legal Observer Program volunteer returned from spending time providing legal support in #StandingRock. We are sharing this update from one of the volunteers: “About 30 water protectors in North Dakota were arrested for peacefully assembling and praying in a mall on Black Friday, and everyone has been bonded out who wanted to be. The legal team here is amazing, working tirelessly and without pay to make sure everyone meets bail, gets rides, and makes their court dates. I know y’all have probably been donating so much lately, but if you share maybe someone who hasn’t yet will make a donation. Here is a link to donate to the bail fund: http://waterprotectorlegal.org/.

We haven’t lost this…the bravery of native people at Standing Rock is the reason why the pipeline hasn’t been completed. Resistance is working and we should continue to support it until the Missouri River is out of harm’s way.”

Also check out Jeff Hass’ profile in the Progressive.