Local Collective Forms to Offer Year-Round Solidarity Support
by Carol Tyson

July/August 2001
Volume 38, No. 6

"The government is trying to undermine the movement by creating divisiveness and fear... Yet the opposite result is occurring: the movement is growing and we are protecting each other more than ever. The creation of legal collectives is one part of this."
-- "The Resurgence of Activist Legal Collectives", Guild Notes, Spring 2001

Since the demonstrations in Seattle directed at the WTO, activists and lawyers alike have become aware of the extent to which the state is willing to apply ruthless and unconstitutional techniques to suppress free speech and activism. Peaceful demonstrators are routinely brutalized, arrested or detained on trumped-up, false, or fabricated charges. Events around the country reflect the racism, and inherent unjust and violent nature of the police force and judicial system.

In response to these actions, activists and lawyers have once again banned together to form legal collectives. These collectives are varied in their structure, goals, and membership. Those in town for the Aril 16th action in DC last April no doubt remember the Midnight Special law collective, comprised of both lawyers and activists working to train, and provide support to activists in solidarity actions; both outside and inside the jail cells. Collectives have since formed in California, New York City, and Philadelphia, to name a few. Some, such as R2K Legal, formed in response to mass actions in their respective cities. Just Cause out of California travels to mass direct action locations to provide full legal and solidarity support, while still others focus on trainings, the production of manuals, etc. As a recent article appearing in the National Lawyers Guild Guild Notes, written by members of the Midnight Special and NYC People's Law Collective stated, "each collective has evolved differently but shares the common goal of protecting the movement, and individuals within it, by pooling collective power and potential."

The DC Justice & Solidarity Collective formed in response to the recent protests surrounding the inauguration. Currently comprised of local activists, law students, legal workers, and one lawyer, the collective seeks to create a local resource for activists coming to DC to participate in actions, as well as providing support for DC community members and movement groups. Collective members share a commitment to the struggle against the ravages of global corporate capitalism, imperialism, militarism, racism, homophobia, misogyny, and social injustice. The collective is run by consensus and believes in creating open spaces for dialogue and new ideas. The Collective is open to new members, while still considering the need for a level of security which ultimately protects both members and those that we strive to support.

The collective believes that legal support (obtained with the aid of lawyers) and solidarity are essential to the successful outcome of any direct action. Unfortunately, support, solidarity, and help with legal matters is often beyond the means of small affinity groups and citizens. The Collective believes that a resource should exist to provide local community groups and citizens with information, and connections to activist or advocacy groups. To these ends, the collective is in the process of combining our resources with those of the existing DC legal community so that we might begin to act as a clearinghouse of information, provide or arrange for relevant and/or requested trainings, and support the empowerment of arrested individuals by employing emotional, court, and fiscal support.

Currently, the collective is working closely with local progressive lawyers and Just Cause to provide support to the Anti-Capitalist Convergence, the Mobilization for Global Justice, and the People's Repo. The collective is also aiding local actions between now and September, such as Reclaim the Streets, and working as a proud and active member of the newly formed DC Community Coalition for Justice and Peace.

In the future we hope to provide assistance to a wide range of local community groups and citizens through trainings and as an information clearinghouse. It is our dream that we would not only serve as a resource that bridges the information gap between lawyers and activists, but that we would also be able to offer-up support that empowers and enables activists and concerned citizens to continue to speak out and create a world rooted in justice, respect, and mutual aid.

As part of our preparations for the fall, the collective is currently searching for support in a number of areas, specifically meeting spaces, temporary to permanent office space (for which we would be able to pay a modest rent), office equipment, and funds to go towards the fall legal team and bail money for activists. To offer any of the above, or for more information, please feel free to contact the collective through our website: http://www.justiceandsolidarity.org, or call Anais Sensiba at (202) 319-1011, ext. 123, or Vickie Kostic at (703) 608-1965.