*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 28, 2010*
*New York*–The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) and its Mass Defense Committee
provides legal defense and educational resources to activists, including
those subjected to the September 24 raids and grand jury subpoenas in
Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois. The Guild denounces the attacks on free
speech, freedom of association, and the right to dissent that these actions
represent. The raids and summonses reflect escalating hostility toward
individuals and groups working in solidarity with the Palestinian and
Colombian people and are blatantly political attacks on peaceful activists.
National Lawyers Guild lawyers, in their continuing efforts to protect the
right to dissent, are coordinating defense of these activists. The NLG
offers several resources for activists who are subject to similarly
aggressive and politically motivated breaches of their rights.
*NLG Hotline: 888-NLG-ECOL (888-654-3265)*
-A hotline for U.S. activists who have been contacted by the FBI. Callers
are matched with NLG defense attorneys in their states who have experience
dealing with similar cases.
*Know Your Rights Brochure*: www.nlg.org/resources/know-your-rights
-A two-page brochure that summarizes the rights of citizens when they are
contacted or stopped by the police or federal authorities. Available in
English, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Farsi and Punjabi.
*Operation Backfire:* www.nlg.org/publications/operation-backfire
-A booklet that discusses government attacks on activists and subsequent
prosecutions. Available for free download.
The National Lawyers Guild recommends that activists consult and make use of
these resources. The Guild advises anyone visited by the FBI to assert your
right not to answer any questions, to get the card of the FBI agent and
state that you will have an attorney contact the agent on your behalf.
# # #
—
Paige Cram
national lawyers guild
Communications Coordinator
212.679.5100, ext. 15
www.nlg.org
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