Mass Dissent (ISSN 0887-8536) Is Published Hotline, Who Are Counseling Military Personnel on Their Rights

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Massachusetts Chapter National Lawyers Guild 14 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108 DeceMmber 2013 assw ww.nDlgmass.org issenVol. 3t 6, No. 8 In This Edition NLG Massachusetts Chapter in 2013 Over 40 years on the scene as ad-hoc activist groups and and has not slowed down! conducted trainings in civil Massachusetts Chapter in 2013 That’s what we all in the disobedience and legal observ - Massachusetts Chapter of the ing, provided legal observers page 1 NLG can proudly claim. We at demonstrations, and repre - Guild News continue building our unique sented those who were arrested community of legal profes - and charged for their protests page 3 sionals and providing a plat - (page 6-7) . The Lawyer NLG Litigation Committee form for radicals to voice their Referral Service Committee page 5 opposition to political wrongs. welcomed a new coordinator This past year, the chapter and new members, and contin - NLG Mass Defense Committee members and committees tack - ued its essential service for the page 6 led hot issues. community. NLG members The Advisory Committee who are on the referral panel SLC Project and LRS provided a space and advice often are the last resort for des - Committee for activists who work on perate low and moderate- page 8 rights for tenants, domestic income people in need of legal workers, LGBT community, help (page 8) . The Street Law “NLG Presents” Happy Hour and prisoners. The Litigation Clinic Project is entering its and Student Reflections on Committee spent the year on 25th year in operation and it’s NLG Convention pending cases including the as strong as ever. We now page 9 surveillance of activists by the offer seven legal clinics which Boston Police Department and are conducted by law students NLG Student Chapters Reports Boston Regional Intelligence we trained and by NLG mem - page 10 Center and on research and bers. We receive requests for exploration of new potential clinics and trainings from all cases. The Committee also over Massachusetts, and also advised and represented the from Rhode Island and Students for Justice in Vermont, and our members BOARD MEETING Palestine at Northeastern don’t mind travelling for sev - University who were targeted eral hours to deliver what’s December 17, 6:00 pm by the school administration needed (page 8) . The “NLG (page 5) . The Mass Defense Presents...” Committee put 14 Beacon St., 1st Fl. Committee worked non-stop together very exciting and Continued on page 4 Boston with well-established as well

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NATIONAL LAWYERS GUILD Massachusetts Chapter, Inc. Join a Guild Committee 14 Beacon St., Suite 407 Boston, MA 02108 Street Law Clinic Project: The Street Law Clinic project provides tel.: 617-227-7335 • fax: 617-227-5495 workshops for Massachusetts organizations that address legal needs of [email protected] • [email protected] various communities. Legal education workshops on 4th Amendment www.nlgmass.org Rights (Stop & Search), Landlord/Tenant Disputes, Workers’ Rights, Civil Disobedience Defense, Bankruptcy Law, Foreclosure Prevention Law, and Immigration Law are held at community organizations, youth BOARD OF DIRECTORS centers, labor unions, shelters, and pre-release centers. If you are a Guild attorney, law student, or legal worker interested in leading a workshop, CHAIRPERSON please contact the project at 617-723-4330 or [email protected]. David Kelston, Adkins Kelston & Zavez

TREASURERS Lawyer Referral Service Panel (LRS): Members of the panel provide Patricia Cantor legal services at reasonable rates. Referral Service Committee members: Jeff Petrucelly, Petrucelly, Nadler & Norris Makis Antzoulatos, Benjamin Dowling, Sebastian Korth, Douglas Lovenberg, and Jonathan Messinger. For more information, contact the MEMBERS Makis Antzoulatos, CPCS LRS Coordinator at 617-227-7008 or [email protected]. Beverly Chorbajian, Solo Practitioner Hillary Farber, UMass Dartmouth Foreclosure Prevention Task Force: Created in June 2008, the Task Jeff Feuer, Goldstein & Feuer Force’s goal is threefold: (1) advocate for policies that address issues Jonathan Messinger, LoveYourLawyer.com that homeowners and tenants of foreclosed houses face, (2) to provide Halim Moris, Moris & O’Shea legal assistance to these homeowners and tenants, and (3) to conduct Josh Raisler Cohn, CPCS legal clinics for them. If you are interested in working with the Task Solo Practitioner Elaine Sharp, Force, please call the office at 617-227-7335. Carl Williams, CPCS Stephanie Young, Glickman Turley LLP Mass Defense Committee: Consists of two sub-committees: (1) “Legal Observers” (students, lawyers, activists) who are trained to serve as legal LAW STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES observers at political demonstrations and (2) “Mass Defense Team” (crim - Ray Burke, Boston College inal defense attorneys) who represent activists arrested for political Alexandra Conlon, Boston University activism. To get involved, please contact the office at 617-227-7335. Tasha Kates, Northeastern Megan MacGillivray, New England K-Sue Park, Harvard Litigation Committee: Established in 2010, the Committee brings Amy Willis, Suffolk civil lawsuits against large institutions (such as government agencies, law enforcement, banks, financial institutions, and/or large corporations) that engage in repressive or predatory actions that affect large numbers STAFF of people and that serve to perpetuate social, racial and/or economic EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR injustice or inequality. To get involved, please contact the Guild office. Urszula Masny-Latos NLG National Immigration Project: Works to defend and extend the LRS COORDINATOR/ADMIN. ASSIST. Ariel Oshinsky human and civil rights of all immigrants, both documented and undocu - mented. The Committee works in coalitions with community groups to STREET LAW CLINIC COORDINATOR organize support for immigrant rights in the face of right-wing political KT Crossman attacks. For more information contact the NLG National Immigration Project at 617-227-9727. LITIGA TION COMMITTEE INTERN Negar Mortazavi NLG Military Law Task Force: Provides legal advice and assistance to those in the military and to others, especially members of the GIRights Mass Dissent (ISSN 0887-8536) is published Hotline, who are counseling military personnel on their rights. It also monthly except January, May, July and August provides legal support and helps to find local legal referrals when need - by the National Lawyers Guild, Mass. Chapter, 14 Beacon St., Suite 407, Boston, MA 02108. ed. For advice and information, GI’s can call 877-447-4487. To get Second-class postage paid at Boston, MA. involved, please contact Neil Berman ([email protected]) or POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mass Dissent, NLG, 14 Beacon St., Suite 407, Marguerite Helen ([email protected]). Boston, MA 02108. December 2013 Mass Dissent Page 2 MassDissent 13/12_Layout 1 11/18/13 1:26 PM Page 3

GUILD NEWS

NLG HAPPY HOUR You NLG HOLIDAY PARTY All are invited to the “ NLG Presents...” Happy Hour - an NLG members are invited to the NLG Massachusetts event held quarterly on the 2nd Wednesday of Chapter annual Holiday Party. This year’s party will be January, April, September , and November . See on Friday, December 6, from 5:30pm to 9pm . Once below information about the next event (a report from again, we’ll be hosted by our good friends at Stern, the most recent Happy Hour is on page 4 of Mass Shapiro, Weissberg & Garin (90 Canal St. 5th Floor, Dissent issued the following month.) If you have ideas Boston). Among the party attractions, we will offer great for a presentation or would like to be a speaker, please food, a lot of refreshing beverages, and many wonder - call the NLG office at 617-227-7335. ful raffle prizes. Raffle tickets ($10) are for sale now.

Street Law Clinic Report NLG Happy Hour The following clinics and trainings were conducted for members of Boston area community organizations and The CAMPUS ASSAULT ON agencies: PALESTINIAN SOLIDARITY WORK October 5: Legal Observing at a protest against an evening with Lynn Police department for killing of Denis Reynoso, by Northeastern law students Charles Max Geller & David Kelston Flewelling and Mark McMahon , and David Nathanson and Rahel Sommer-Hays . Wednesday, January 8, 2013 October 6: Legal Observer and Civil Disobedience 6:00 - 8:00 pm trainings for activists involved in the Keystone Red Hat Cafe (9 Bowdoin St., Boston) Pipeline Pledge of Resistance, by Jeff Feuer and Josh Raisler Cohn . The NLG Litigation Committee has been provid - ing assistance to the Northeastern University October 7: Legal Observing at a protest at the Tip Students for Justice in Palestine organization who O’Neill Federal Building, organized by the has been targetted by the university administration Keystone Pipeline XL campaign, by Melinda and punished for its political organizing. We will Drew, Jeff Feuer, Lee Goldstein, Benjie Hiller, hear from SJP students and members of the NLG Josh Raisler Cohn, and Mark Stern . Litigation Committee. October 18: Legal Observer training for students at Roger Williams University School of Law in School, by Neil Berman . Christian Williams Bristol, Rhode Island, by . November 9: Legal Observer training for Keystone November 3: Legal Observer training for the activists in Springfield, MA, by Beverly Chorbajian . Melinda Keystone activists and for LO trainers, by November 16: Civil Disobedience and Legal Drew Jeff Feuer and . Observer trainings for Keystone activists and other November 5: Bankruptcy Law and Consumer groups active in Randolph, Vermont, by Neil Protection training for law students at Harvard Law Berman , Melinda Drew , and Jeff Feuer .

ARTICLES FOR MASS DISSENT The February issue of Mass Dissent will focus on militarization of police force. If you are interested in submitting an article, essay, analysis, or art work (cartoons, pictures) related to the topic, please e-mail your work to [email protected]. The deadline for articles is January 15. December 2013 Mass Dissent Page 3 MassDissent 13/12_Layout 1 11/18/13 1:26 PM Page 4

NLG Massachusetts Chapter in 2013 engaging programs for our almost-monthly Happy Hours where we “think & drink” (page 9) . In 2013, we organ - ized several discussion panels. In February, we hosted an NLG member from Vermont for a series of talks at all local law schools about the findings of an NLG (Top, center l.-r.) NLG members Michael Avery, Benjamin Falkner, Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, and Susan Church lead the first in a series of conver - sations on “The Lockdown: April 2013 & Beyond” at Harvard Law School. (Left, l.-r.) NLG Sustainers Judy Somberg, Marjorie Suisman, Roger Geller, Michael Avery, David Kelston, Jonathan Messinger, Marty Rosenthal, and Mark Stern joined at a Sustainer Fall Party by (center & front row l.-r.) Carl Williams, Urszula Masny-Latos, Ariel Oshinsky, and Negar Mortazavi. (Below) The new Lawyer Referral Committe: (l.-r.) Jonathan Messinger, Ariel Oshinsky, Doug Lovenberg, Benjamin Dowling, and Makis Antzoulatos. (Photos by Ariel Oshinsky, Amy Willis, and Mckenzie Walter)

humanitarian delegation to Gaza. We cooperated with NLG student chapters and brought panelists to talk about police and government surveillance of political activists. We observed and evaluated the government’s response to the aftermath of the Boston Marathon tragedy, and are holding a dis - cussion series in various local communities that were affected by the city lockdown and police manhunt; in the Fall, we were at Harvard and in Watertown; in January - we will be at Northeastern and in Cambridge. The Chapter also co-sponsored a panel on immigration law at the Boston Latino International Film Festival. feel strong enough to establish their own NLG At this year’s NLG Gala, we honored Noam chapter there. We wish them many successes. Chomsky and post-humously Emily Novick, two We are getting ready for the new year and of the most beloved and respected friends of the challenges ahead of us. And we know we are pre - Guild. pared. With our members, sustainers, and sup - Our members in Western Mass are energizing porters, there aren’t obstacles we won’t be able to legal comrades in their part of the state to do more overcome. Guild work, and our members in Rhode Island - Urszula Masny-Latos & David Kelston - December 2013 Mass Dissent Page 4 MassDissent 13/12_Layout 1 11/18/13 1:26 PM Page 5

Busy Year for the NLG Litigation Committee by Negar Mortazavi & Urszula lawsuit against the administration Boston Marathon bomber sus - Masny-Latos of the Essex County Prison who pect to determine if all strategies illegally demanded mandatory used were proper and within legal has been as busy fees from prisoners to cover med - bounds. for the NLG ical costs. After almost two years • We are also researching the 2Ma0ss1ach3usetts Chapter’s of litigation, the prison administra - possibility of challenging mar - Litigation Committee as ever. In tion is ready to settle, and the riage as an institution that pro - addition to the Committee's core case might be resolved by the motes the inequitable distribution members – Mimi Brown, end of the year, with the re-pay - of key public benefits and rights. Christine Bustany, Jeff Feuer, ment of the challenged frees. In particular, the federal govern - David Kelston, Urszula Masny- ment has identified 1,138 federal Latos, Jonathan Messinger , Protecting Tenants Against statutory provisions that use mar - and Kristin Wekony (2012-2013 Large Financial Institutions: ital status as a determinative fac - legal intern) we've welcomed Since last year, the Committee tor in qualifying for federal rights legal fellow Negar Mortazavi (BU has been representing tenants and benefits. This alone raises a School of Law 2013 graduate), who face eviction by banks and number of issues concerning dis - and Stephanie Marzouk who will other investors from buildings crimination against the unmar - be working on our projects. Other that were subjected to foreclosure. ried, including Social Security Guild members who have partici - In November, the Committee sub - survivorship rights, income tax pated in the Committee’s work mitted a motion to the Boston deductions and credits, and the include Nadine Cohen, Housing Court requesting the right to care for a loved one under Benjamin Falkner, Lee court to assess fines against the Family and Medical Leave Act . Goldstein, Sebastian Korth, Fannie Mae for wrongfully Jeff Petrucelly , and Jeff Thorn . attempting to evict two tenants As you can see, the The Committee was estab - living in a post-foreclosure build - Committee has very ambitious lished just two years ago, but it ing. The court has already deter - plans for 2014. If you would like has already achieved significant mined that Fannie Mae violated to get involved - even if only in victories. state law in bringing those evic - one project - please contact the tion actions, has dismissed those NLG office (617-227-7335) and Surveillance of Activists: actions, and has awarded pos - let us know. The Committee is Following a succesful FOIA law - session to the tenants, while also also interested in hearing from suit, the Committee filed a number allowing the tenants’ counter - any Guild member about any of FOIA requests on behalf of claims for damages to proceed. legal issues that might have wide - Boston activists and followed up spread impact which could be the on the status of previously filed Currently, the Committee has possible subject of a lawsuit. We requests that were denied. The added several new projects: are always interested in exploring Committee met with officers of the new institutional or systemic Boston law enforcement fusion • We are looking into reports issues or problems that could be center – the Boston Regional about a very troubling practice of addressed through aggressive lit - Intelligence Center (BRIC) - to restraints and shackling used on igation. present our concerns and objec - female inmates during child labor tions to the surveillance tactics the in Massachusetts prisons. Center uses when dealing with • We are reviewing the status of political activists. We plan to fol - prisoners’ access to law libraries low up with further requests for the to determine whether all prison - BRIC to expunge their records of ers in Massachusetts state and Negar Mortazavi is the 2013- all surveillance of peaceful political county prisons have constitution - 2014 NLG Litigation Committee activities that they have conducted ally guaranteed access to the Fellow and recent graduate of since BRIC was formed. legal system. Boston University School of Law. • We are examining the conduct Urszula Masny-Latos is the Essex County Prison: of all law enforcement agencies Executive Director of the NLG The Committee has continued its involved in the pursuit of the Massachusetts Chapter. December 2013 Mass Dissent Page 5 MassDissent 13/12_Layout 1 11/18/13 1:26 PM Page 6

NLG Mass Defense Committee Rocks!

by Jeff Feuer money coming from Occupy inal defense representation to all movement participants. participants in organized anti- The MDC’s successes contin- foreclosure/eviction blockade he Massachusetts Chapter’s ued in our work with City Life/Vida actions. Mass Defense Committee Urbana (CLVU) in the anti-evic- The MDC has also become T(MDC) has had an extremely suc- tion/anti-foreclosure movement increasingly involved with envi- cessful year in providing signifi- and with the Mass Senior Action ronmental activists fighting to cant legal support to a number of Council (MSAC) in fighting the close the Brayton Point coal plant diverse progressive campaigns disproportionate MBTA fare and in the National Pledge of and groups throughout 2013. increases for disabled and elderly Resistance campaign to stop the The year began on a high note residents also continued through- construction of the environmen- when, in February, the MDC out 2013. MDC lawyers and law tally-destructive Keystone XL lawyers (Susan Church, Kevin students served as Legal Pipeline. In July, some 20 Guild Barron, Andrew Fischer, and Jeff Observers for numerous CLVU Legal Observers participated in Feuer) represent - one of the ing the remaining largest climate Occupy Boston change demon- criminal defen - strations in dants, after exten- recent years sive preparations when more than to begin the trial of 350 demonstra- the first five defen- tors (ranging dants, had all from people charges against all involved in 26 remaining OB 350.org to union defendants com - leaders to local pletely dismissed residents) ral - on the eve of a Rahel Sommer-Hays (r.) legal observing at an October protest against the killing of Denis lied against the hearing (on the Reynoso in Lynn (all legal observers listed on page 3 under Street Law Clinic report.) pollution-spew - first scheduled day ing Brayton of trial) on the defendant’s motion and MSAC demonstrations and Point coal plant in Somerset, to dismiss, based on constitution- CLVU eviction blockades through- Massachusetts, even though they al grounds. That dismissal meant out the year, which helped to limit were faced with an overwhelming that the MDC was successful in greatly the number of arrests that police presence (more than 100 insuring that no one arrested dur- occurred at these events. When heavily armed police officers from ing any of the Occupy Boston some of these demonstrators did more than 11 different local, protests and marches was found get arrested, MDC lawyers state, and federal law enforce- guilty of any crime, as most other stepped forward to represent ment agencies). Forty-four com- OB defendants had already had them in court, which resulted, in mitted activists (trained in the their cases dismissed either upon every single case, in the charges legal consequences of CD by payment of a small amount of being dismissed outright or con- members of the Guild) were court costs or after a short period verted to a civil infraction with the arrested for engaging in non-vio- of pre-trial probation. payment of either no or a nominal lent civil disobedience. A cadre of To celebrate the MDC’s sig- fine. Both organizations credited MDC attorneys represented the nificant legal work throughout the the Guild with supplying the legal arrestees during five days of Occupy movement, a victory support necessary for them to arraignments in the Fall River party was held in March at engage in effective public demon- District Court, which resulted in Jillian’s, which attracted more strations and civil disobedience all of the charges being dis - than 50 people and raised almost (CD) actions. The MDC has con- missed or converted to civil $10,000.00 in contributions to the tinued to honor the Guild’s com- infractions upon the payment of Guild, with a large portion of that mitment to provide pro bono crim- Continued on page 7

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NLG Mass Defense Committee Rocks! Continued from page 6 gressive political events and demon strations throughout $100.00 court costs per person. Massachusetts, whenever we are In addition, MDC Attorney Ken requested to do so by activists and Diesenhof is representing two progressive groups. In addition to activists who are alleged to have providing legal observers for attempted to block the delivery of demonstrations, MDC lawyers coal to Brayton Point by a giant provide free clinics on legal coal cargo ship with their small rights/civil disobedience to groups fishing boat. Their case, using a and individuals who are planning necessity defense, is expected to on engaging in direct political go to trial some time next year, as action that could result in arrests. the defendants, out of principle, Currently active members of have rejected any plea bargain - the MDC include Makis ing. As a result of the Guild’s Charles Flewelling observes at the Lynn Anzoulatos, Kevin Barron, Dan protest. support of this well-planned event, participants in the action addition, the Guild made donations totaling has been conduct - $4,000.00 to the Guild. More ing clinics to train importantly, the new owners of legal observers the Brayton Point coal plant and potential CD recently announced that the plant participants in- would be closed for good within volved with the the next two years! National Pledge of MDC members have contin - Resistance at sites ued to provide Legal Observers in Cambridge, and successful legal representa - Worcester, tion for demonstrators at the head - Springfield, and quarters of Trans-Canada (the Brattleboro and Jeff Feuer and Josh Raisler Cohn (center) keeping their eyes on builder of the Keystone XL Randolph, VT, in cops that surrounded Keystone protesters at Brayton Point. Pipeline) in Westborough, MA, anticipation of a and for a large anti-pipeline nationwide CD action that will take Beck, Neil Berman, Beverly demonstration at the O’Neill feder - place if (or when) the Key-stone Chorbajian, Susan Church, Ken al building in downtown Boston. In XL Pipeline is approved. Diesenhof, Melinda Drew, Nationally, some Benjamin Evans, Hillary Farber, 76,500 people Jeff Feuer, Andrew Fischer, Lee have signed the Goldstein, Stefanie Grindle, Benjie pledge to com - Hiller, Myong Joun, Urszula mit an act of Masny-Latos, Josh Raisler Cohn, non-violent civil Deborah Roher, Mark Stern, Carl disobedience to Williams, Chris Williams, and try to stop the Shawn Jarecki (from the Vermont building of this NLG chapter). disastrous pipeline. The MDC continues to Jeff Feuer is the Coordinator of train and pro - the Massachusetts Chapter NLG Legal observing at a protest against Brayton Point coal company vide legal Mass Defense Committee. He in Somerset (l.-r.) Jim Vita (New Bedford CPCS), NLG members observers for a also serves on the NLG Board of Chris Williams and Makis Anzoulatos, and Marcus Swift (Rodger variety of pro - Directors. Williams School of Law student). (Photos by Benjamin Evans) December 2013 Mass Dissent Page 7 MassDissent 13/12_Layout 1 11/18/13 1:26 PM Page 8

NLG Street Law Clinic NLG Lawyer Referral Project Service by kt crossman by Ariel Oshinsky

fter a brief summer hiatus, the Street Law Clinic ince the 1980s, the Lawyer Referral Service Project is up and running and off to a strong (LRS) has been an important project of the sAtart. Beginning in mid-October, we’ve had three MSassachusetts Chapter of the National Lawyers student trainings in a row: students from Boston Guild, and an essential service to those who need College, Boston University, Harvard Law School, legal assistance but find that structural barriers New England School of Law, Northeastern School limit their access to quality representation. Each of Law, and Suffolk Law School attended Workers’ month we receive hundreds of calls from individu - Rights and Consumer/Bankruptcy Law trainings als seeking such assistance, and as long as the presented by Mark Stern and Neil Berman at NLG Mass LRS exists, we will continue connect - Harvard, and a Stop & Search training presented by ing these potential clients with you, the NLG attor - Makis Antzoulatos at NESL. We are excited to neys who choose to be a part of this service. begin scheduling clinics, and have already begun This year, our Committee welcomed new outreach. One of the students at Suffolk will pres - members: Makis Antzoulatos, Benjamin ent a Stop & Search clinic with Ben Evans at a local Dowling, Sebastian Korth, Douglas Lovenberg, high school as part of a class. As of right now, we’re Jonathan Messinger . Our new challenge was to nearing 70 students in the Boston area trained in broaden the demographic scope of the Lawyer Workers’ Rights, Tenant/Landlord Law, Foreclosure Referral Service and to plan strategic improve - & Eviction, Consumer Law, and Stop & Search; ments for the future. We know that attorneys we’re looking forward to a busy clinic schedule. choose to join our service in order to connect with Keep an ear to the ground! more clients in need of legal representation at a We’re also excited about a few potential part - reasonable rate. Accordingly, the LRS has been nerships across the state. Western New England growing its capacity to directly reach these clients. University School of Law is working with us to put Our new website is a significant part of this strate - together a series of Street Law trainings and Legal gy, connecting Massachusetts clients to our serv - Observer trainings – all Guild lawyers in western ices online. Additionally, we have improved our Massachusetts, please contact me at the visibility by posting more, and better, promotional number/email below if you’re interested! The Higg- materials in local courts, where our clients are Lew Leaders Program at the Higgenson-Lewis most likely to seek legal services. School in Roxbury, run by two Northeastern Law We encourage you all to consider joining the students, helps middle school students learn about Lawyer Referral Service. We are especially eager their Constitutional rights; they are currently study - to invite attorneys from western and central ing the 4th and 14th Amendments, so we’ll be work - Massachusetts, regions where LRS callers expe - ing with them to run a Stop & Search clinic. rience a lack of legal referral services. The LRS As ever, the Street Law Clinic Project is commit - membership costs $175 annually, and remittance ted to helping community members understand the fees are just 10-15 percent. We hope you will law and their rights within it. Clinics are run by law contact us if you have any questions, or if you students and a supervising attorney; at press time, would like more information. we’ve wrapped up our fall student training schedule – thanks to everyone who participated, and watch Ariel Oshinsky is the Coordinator of the LRS. your inboxes for clinic requests! In addition to the areas listed above, the Street Law Clinic Project also runs clinics in Immigration gram? Email me at [email protected], or call Law and in Civil Disobedience. Do you know a (617) 723-4330. community organization that might be interested in a clinic? Are you an attorney interested in facilitat - ing a clinic, or part of a student group interested in kt crossman is the SLC Coordinator and a 2nd year trainings? Have any other questions about the pro - student at Northeastern University School Of Law. December 2013 Mass Dissent Page 8 MassDissent 13/12_Layout 1 11/18/13 1:26 PM Page 9

“NLG Presents” NLG Convention Through Happy Hours the Eyes of WNE Students by Bonnie Tenneriello by Erica Reynolds

he Chapter’s monthly gatherings at the Red Hat hen members of the Western New England Café continue to be the premier progressive law College School of Law chapter of the NLG sTalon for drinkers and non-drinkers alike. The sec - fWound out that the NLG Convention was being held ond Wednesday of each month alternated between in Puerto Rico, I thought every member would be an “NLG Presents” discussion on a subject of inter - signing up to go! As it turned out three of us were est to members or a “Mentorship Happy Hour” able to make it to the beautiful, la isla del encanto or aimed at providing practical support for newer prac - “the island of enchantment”. titioners. Either way, it’s a place to find fellowship Our first clue that this experience was going to and – if you’re lucky – a good argument. be beyond comparison was the pictures of the hotel This year, “NLG Presents” topics ranged wide - where the convention was taking place. The ly. Robert Schwartz in January talked about his Condado Plaza Hilton was stunningly beautiful. latest workers’ guide to labor law: “Just Cause: A We got a big group of NLGers together from Union Guide to Winning Discipline Cases,” followed Western Massachusetts, lawyers and law students, by a lively discussion on the possibility of passage and shared expenses to travel down together. Four of a state law requiring just cause for firing. Then of the people that came also brought along their chil - in March, Bonnie Tenneriello and Stephanie dren, which was feasible thanks to the NLG offering Marzouk spoke about the cruel reality of solitary childcare at the event. I think that was a great expe - confinement of prisoners in Massachusetts, and rience for them and their children. pending legislation to restrict its use. And, fittingly Once we arrived at the hotel, our collective enough, September 11 brought criminal defense thought was “how are we supposed to attend panels and civil litigator Benjamin Falkner in to lead a dis - amongst all of this splendor?” However, the panels cussion on the citywide lockdown set up after the looked so interesting, we were excited to attend. Marathon bombings and the subsequent house-to- We went to workshops and panels that spanned top - house warrantless searches in Watertown. ics of combatting racism in the courtroom to cyber November’s Happy Hour was devoted to a report hacktivism. The overwhelming response among from Chapter members lucky enough to make it to attendees was that building camaraderie in this type the convention in Puerto Rico. of setting is incredibly refreshing. Being surrounded Mentorship speakers included Hayne by people who feel as strongly as you do about Barnwell , on how to handle high profile-cases such issues of social justice is just invigorating. as the Tarek Mehanna and "Whitey" Bulger cases We also spent a fair amount of time “network - that she worked on, and attorneys Nadine Cohen ing” by the five different pools at the hotel! There and Jeff Feuer , on how to fight big banks and mort - was a swim-up bar at the main pool, and collaborat - gage companies in foreclosures and evictions. ing with fellow NLGers while drinking a minty mojito Stay tuned for more topics in 2014, starting in was a much-needed respite for many of us. January with a discussion with David Kelston and On our last day, a few of us decided to go sight - Max Geller about Northeastern University’s treat - seeing. We happened upon the Castillo San Felipe ment of Students for Justice in Palestine organiza - del Morro, a 16th-century citadel built by the tion. It’s fine to just come and consume – whether Spaniards to protect San Juan; we read the signs, talk or drink – but consider leading a discussion or took pictures, and escaped from the sudden after - suggesting a speaker yourself. Through the Guild noon downpour in the lighthouse built on top of the office, you can contact either me or Judy Somberg castle-like structure. The concierge at the hotel had about “NLG Presents” ideas. told us to check out a place called, Café Puerto Rico as they had great mofongo and mojitos. This ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. The food and drinks were excellent, and the people who Bonnie Tenneriello is an attorney at Prisoners worked at the restaurant were fun! Now we are Legal Services in Boston. Continued on page 11 December 2013 Mass Dissent Page 9 MassDissent 13/12_Layout 1 11/18/13 1:26 PM Page 10

NLG Law Student Reports

HARVARD gated to a less-traveled area of the law school. by Carl Lisberger, 2L The chapter extended its efforts beyond our In February, our student chapter organized a presen - campus with Project No One Leaves. Students sup - tation by NLG member from Vermont, Jimmy Leas, ported the organizing of City Life/Vida Urbana by on an NLG delegation to Gaza, a workshop at canvassing properties in foreclosure to give home - Reblaw Conference at Yale Law School "Firmly owners and tenants information about free legal Refuse: Building a National Movement to Disrupt help. The chapter also hosted Street Law Clinic the Corporate Sell-out Machine ( aka Law School)," trainings on Stop & Search and Tenants' Rights, as a lunch talk with Amber Lyons about her documen - well as a Legal Observer Training. tary about protests in Bahrain last year and their As part of The Critical Legal Studies Project, biased coverage by American media. we held lunchtime workshops on contract law, con - In Spring, we sponsored screening of two stitutional law, criminal law, torts, queer theory and movies: “The Central Park 5” and “The Prisoner or: law from a global perspective. The chapter also How I Planned to Kill Tony Blair,” and a conference hosted a presentation on last year’s attacks on Gaza “Deep Capture: Psychology, Public Relations, with NLG member Jimmy Leas, a panel on sex Democracy, and Law.” workers, a presentation on student debt from a This Fall, we co-sponsored a lunch event “The macro perspective, a panel on pinkwashing and Crimmigration Complex” with Dan Kesselbrenner homonationalism, and a discussion of the DOMA of the NLG National Immigration Project who dis - and Proposition 8 Supreme Court cases. cussed the intersection of the criminal justice and Although the Northeastern chapter has had a immigration enforcement systems; we co-spon - busy year, there are always many more issues that sored a conference titled “Shake 'Em Up” with students wish they had time to address. Thankfully, Ralph Nader and 12 leading scholars, practitioners, there's always 2014. and advocates about transforming America’s broken legal system. We also held two NLG Street Law SUFFOLK Clinic trainings; one on Workers’ Rights with Mark by Amy Willis, 2L Stern and the second on Bankruptcy Law/Consumer This year, the Suffolk NLG chapter organized two Protection with Neil Berman. Student Socials for all NLG students in Boston – one in February and one in September. We also sent NORTHEASTERN five students to the NLG Convention Puerto Rico. by Tasha Kates, 3L In 2013, the Northeastern University School of Law's WESTERN NEW ENGLAND NLG chapter focused much of its energy on trying to by Tyler Ingraham, 2L change free speech practices at Northeastern and The Western New England University School of reaching out to the larger Boston community. Free Law (WNEU) chapter had a productive year of cre - speech issues on the undergraduate and law school ating and working towards change in the Pioneer campuses were of particular concern this year. The Valley and at the school. Northeastern NLG chapter organized a demonstration Our students were tremendously active in issues in solidarity with the undergraduate chapter of of fairness within the law school and effected the Students for Justice in Palestine, which was sanctioned change in the 1L grading policies and punitive for a non-violent protest of two IDF soldiers who vis - remedial courses. Students also hosted panels at the ited Northeastern. The chapter also challenged the law school designed to bring the broader communi - new bulletin board system within the law school. ty into the law school and drag the law school out After the law school's Students for Justice in Palestine into the broader community. Speakers represented chapter posted content to their board that some people OUTNOW, a LBGT youth organization in may have found offensive, the law school instituted Springfield, and Justice for Charles, a campaign changes that resulted in all bulletin boards being rele - Continued on page 11 December 2013 Mass Dissent Page 10 MassDissent 13/12_Layout 1 11/18/13 1:26 PM Page 11

NLG Massachusetts Chapter Sustainers YES, INCLUDE MY NAME AMONG In the spring of 2003, the Massachusetts Chapter of the NLG initiated NLG MASSACHUSETTS CHAPTER the Chapter Sustainer Program. Since its inception, the Program has SUSTAINERS! been very successful and has been enthusiastically joined by the fol - lowing Guild members: I, ______, am making a commitment to support the Massachusetts 2 Anonymous • Michael Avery • Steven Buckley • Chapter of the Guild with an annual contribution of: Howard Cooper • Barb Dougan • Robert Doyle • _____ $500 (not including my membership dues) Melinda Drew & Jeff Feuer • Carolyn Federoff • $ ______(other above $500) Roger Geller & Marjorie Suisman • Lee Goldstein & As a sustainer I will receive: Shelley Kroll • Lisa Gordon • Benjie Hiller • • special listing in the Dinner Program; Andrei Joseph • Myong Joun • Martin Kantrovitz • 1/8 page ad in the Dinner Program; • Nancy Kelly & John Willshire-Carrera • David • acknowledgement in every issue of Mass Dissent ; • two (2) free raffle tickets for a Holiday Party raffle; Kelston • Jonathan Messinger • Petrucelly, Nadler • invitation to special events. & Norris • Hank Phillippi Ryan & Jonathan Shapiro • Allan Rodgers • Martin Rosenthal • Sharryn Three ways to become a sustainer: Ross & Mark Stern • Anne Sills & Howard • contribute $500 or more a year (in addition to dues) • pair up with another person and pay $250 each, or Silverman • Judy Somberg • Stern, Shapiro, • join the “Guild Circle” and pay $50/month minimum. Weissberg & Garin Please mail to : NLG, Massachusetts Chapter The Sustainer Program is one of the most important Chapter initiatives to 14 Beacon St., Suite 407, Boston, MA 02108 secure its future existence. Please consider joining the Program.

NLG Law Student Reports

Continued from page 10 the condition that he becomes an FBI informant. Students are also attempting to build a more exten - advocating for the release and vindication of sive network of NLG legal observers in the Pioneer Charles Wilhite, who was wrongly convicted of Valley and continue their work in support of and in murder and incarcerated for three and a half years. solidarity with Springfield No One Leaves. Students also worked extensively with Springfield No One Leaves/Nadie Se Mude, an anti-foreclo - sure/eviction organization, to facilitate foreclosure blockades and provide support to Springfield Bank NLG Convention Tenant Association members. Continued from page 9 In the Fall of 2013, students continue to advo - cate for change within the law school by opposing obsessed with mofongo and have been trying to the potential implementation of a ”soft-flunk” rule, find Caribbean restaurants in Springfield, MA to and by demanding that the school administration recreate our experience. addresses student needs in a more collaborative and All in all this was an experience highly enjoyed effective manner. We are planning several Street by the whole group. We came away from it revital - ized and ready to keep on fighting the good fight for Law Clinic trainings and also clinics themselves in social justice. We are already planning our next the community and support social justice campaigns convention trip to the windy city of Chicago. such as Justice for Ayyub, a campaign organized for Ayyub Abdul-Alim, a man targeted in the ongoing, nation-wide harassment of Muslim communities Erica Reynolds is a 3L student at Western New and offered exoneration for groundless charges on England University School of Law. December 2013 Mass Dissent Page 11 MassDissent 13/12_Layout 1 11/18/13 1:26 PM Page 12

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