This page seeks to provide more information on the level of legal support we (and you) will be providing.
Who is Providing Legal Support?
We are coordinating legal support for the events that we have planned for the weekend.
This means, among other things, that we are providing trainings.
One training is intended those people who will be a part of the legal support team for the weekend (no experience necessary!). Without adequate volunteers to be trained, we won't be able to provide the level of support that we hope for. So, please consider volunteering to help make the weekend run smoothly. If you know you'd like to help with this, please contact us.
The other training is intended for all the participants in the weekend's events, and will focus on what rights you have in DC. For more information on where/when this training will take place, please see our calendar of events.
What Support Are We Coordinating?
We (and you), contingent upon the participation of an adequate number of volunteers, hope to provide the following things:
- A Legal Hotline - This will be a number that you can call if you are arrested (provided that you are given a phone call, to which you aren't legally entitled), and after all the actions are over, when you've been released (if you've been arrested). This way, we'll be able to keep track of who is arrested, and who is released, to ensure that no one is forgotten about. If you think you'd like to help with the hotline, please let us know.
- People to Observe the Actions - These people will attend the actions for the purpose of keeping the legal hotline monitors informed of what's taking place, and documenting police behavior. If you are interested in doing this, please contact us.
What Support Are We Not Providing?
We are not coordinating the following things:
- Lawyers - Simply put, we do not have the capacity to coordinate private attorneys. You will, however, if arrested, be appointed a lawyer, by the court, for your first appearance before a judge in any criminal matter. Some court appointed attorneys are great, and others are not. For this reason, it's important that you're aware of your rights, and an active advocate for yourself.
What Events Are We Providing Support For?
We will be providing the mentioned support for the following events:
- Rally and Press Conference at ICE - This takes place on Friday, October 19th from 12:00pm to 1:30pm at 425 I Street NW.
- Georgetown March - This takes place at 9pm on Friday, October 19th, starting in Washington Circle.
- Permitted March and People's Tribunal - This takes place on Saturday, October 20th, from 12:30pm to 6pm.
What Support Would We Like to Provide If We Had More Volunteers?
- Jail and Court Support - Being arrested isn't usually pleasant. It's really nice to have someone waiting for you when you are released, either from jail, or from the courthouse. Do you agree? If yes, please consider volunteering to greet people as they're released from jail and/or court.