NLG Legal Observers Targeted by Police in Arizona

[G_j]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 30, 2010
8:53 AM


CONTACT: National Lawyers Guild, http://www.nlg.org/
Paige Cram, Communications Coordinator, 212-679-5100, ext. 15

NLG Legal Observers Targeted by Police in Arizona

PHOENIX, AZ - July 30 - Roxana Orell, a lawyer and executive officer with the National Lawyers Guild (NLG), was arrested Thursday in Phoenix while acting as an NLG Legal Observer® for a group of individuals protesting the immigration policies of Sheriff Arpaio. Observers of the arrest indicated that Sheriff’s Deputies appeared to target Orell, who was standing behind the crowd and videotaping the arrest of Sunita Patel, another Legal Observer.

“The arrest of the Guild Legal Observers is just a continuation of Arpaio’s campaign of harassment,” said Carol Sobel, co-chair of the Guild’s Mass Defense Committee. “Apparently, Arpaio thinks that if he arrests the Legal Observers, no one will be there to witness his unlawful actions. We have been arrested, shot with projectiles, hit with batons and pepper-sprayed at protests from Washington, D.C. to Miami to Los Angeles and we are still here to document misconduct.”

Sheriff Arpaio had announced he would conduct sweeps as part of his campaign to target and terrorize immigrant neighborhoods, regardless of the federal court’s injunction issued the prior day against SB 1070. In response to Arpaio’s plans, a group of demonstrators protested outside the Sheriff’s building. As they were gathered in the area, a garage door opened and officers in riot gear came out from the building. The officers arrested one woman closest to the entrance to the building, and then reached into the crowd to snatch Orell and Patel.

Brett Beeler, a UCLA law student, witnessed the entire event. He was approximately five feet from Orell and Patel when they were grabbed. Beeler saw numerous individuals standing closer to the police, but believes that the deputies targeted Orell and Patel because they were wearing the green Legal Observer hats.

The two NLG Legal Observers have been charged with obstruction of a highway and failure to obey a lawful order. They are expected to be arraigned late Thursday night. Numerous other protesters have also been unjustly arrested, and a lack of available translators has caused delays in processing.

The National Lawyers Guild deployed Legal Observers in Phoenix for the large protests against SB 1070 in April and May 2010 as part of its Mass Defense Committee. Last week, the National Lawyers Guild trained approximately two dozen local activists in Phoenix to participate in the program. Orell was heading the effort this week. For each of the major demonstrations in Phoenix this year, the NLG has provided law students, lawyers, and legal workers to ride the buses from Los Angeles with the immigrant workers coming to protest.
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The National Lawyers Guild is dedicated to the need for basic and progressive change in the structure of our political and economic system. Through its members--lawyers, law students, jailhouse lawyers and legal workers united in chapters and committees--the Guild works locally, nationally and internationally as an effective political and social force in the service of the people.

http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2010/07/30-0

[xxqqqzme]

1. When ever I have participated in

protest/demonstrations, I keep an eye out for NLG observers. I always feel a little bit safer when I know they are there.

on edit - I think I feel a little better protected.

[G_j]

2. often, the "green hats"

I know exactly what you mean!

bless the NLG

[G_j]

3. --

[ThoughtCriminal]

4. Our local Bull Conner wannabees

aren't very smart. I would like to think that most law enforcement officers would know better than kicking a hornet's nest, but I keep forgetting who they are pandering to and how well this plays to their wacky base.