Blog & Press Releases
Last night at Standing Rock
The strength with which our movement fought—without weapons or violence toward those weak cowards wearing badges—was the stuff of historic legend.
Update from the Day of Action
It is the International Day of Action in Solidarity with Standing Rock and we read that over 300 actions took place around the world.
Back to the War Zone
We will defend water protectors in court and help organize court support for over 470 arrestees; we will pursue the civil rights actions we are working on against cops and jails; Jamil will ensure computers and communications are as secure as possible; and Erin will lend support to the water protectors and the youth of Standing Rock, hundreds and thousands of whom are now suffering from trauma caused by violent, militarized police and the constant surveillance and harassment by cops and DAPL’s private security goons.
Update: Militarized Police Presence at Standing Rock
This morning the outrageous unprecedented militarized police presence at Standing Rock has taken a turn for the worse. Hundreds of police have surrounded the front lines camp, road blockades have popped up everywhere, and water protectors are currently surrounded by militarized darth vader like cop goons.
In Standing Rock, The Cops Are Out of Control
The police have demonstrated zeal over the last few months focusing their resources and energies on one goal: ensuring that the Dakota Access Pipeline is built—and built on time.
Interview with The Young Turks about #NoDAPL
CLDC’s Executive Director, Lauren Regan, being interviewed by The Young Turks about #NoDAPL.
CLDC Supporting #NoDAPL
CLDC attorneys, Lauren Regan & Cooper Brinson, arrived at the Sacred Stone camp today to provide additional legal support to the movement in North Dakota. They will be at the camp for a week and we will be making regular trips back every month to provide legal support.
Update from the Frontlines in North Dakota
There have been over 135 arrests of water protectors in the last few months, many of the charges are now being filed as felonies—despite incredibly weak facts to support them and many are just blatantly unlawful and unfounded.
Legal Support for #ShutItDown Activists
CLDC is providing legal support to all five teams across the country. “These earth-defenders may be the first to encounter energy infrastructure sentencing and charging enhancements for non-violent civil disobedience in the US.” -Lauren Regan, CLDC Executive Director
CLDC Supporting Standing Rock
The CLDC stands in solidarity and support with the indigenous protectors fighting the Dakota Access pipeline.
Prison & Capitalism
There is a reason that organizers of the September 9 workstoppage are also calling for an abolition of this form of modern slavery: there is no option to reform. There is no humane alternative.
Legal Defense Klamath Forest Activists
Three forest activists arrested during civil disobedience protests in the Klamath region of Northern California will be represented by attorneys from the Civil Liberties Defense Center in federal court this fall. The case comes after an effective and peaceful “barrel blockade” halted logging operations and elevated an ongoing campaign to expose the Westside “Salvage” Logging Project as an illegal and destructive plan, and instead promote a popular restoration alternative proposed for the region, as put forward by the Karuk Tribe.
A Few Bad Apples?
Make no mistake about it, when police engage in violence against people of color, they are doing just what they were intended to do. It is not now nor has it ever been a failure of the system due to a few bad apples. If you’re black or brown or poor in this country, the police were never there to protect and serve you.
News advisory: CLDC to Host Know Your Rights information booth at Kesey Square
The Civil Liberties Defense Center will be hosting a Know Your Rights information booth at Kesey Square to empower everyone in the Eugene community to know their rights when interacting with the police. Advice on constitutional rights, such as the right to assemble in public places like Kesey Square, sidewalks and public parks will be emphasized as well as basic instruction on how to “Copwatch,” or video record law enforcement.
Courts across the nation reject voter suppression laws
Over the past few weeks, courts across the nation have rejected a number of state laws that were recently passed with the intent to restrict access to vote. Although the sponsors of the various state laws claim that the laws are intended to “prevent voter fraud,” in truth they are aimed at preventing poor and minority voters from voting by requiring specific types of ID to vote, eliminating early voting, and implementing a number of other measures that make it harder to vote. As the presidential election nears, the courts are seeing through the “voter fraud” ruse, and repeatedly rejecting these laws.
Activist Locks to Barrels and Halts Klamath Logging
Seiad Valley, Calif –Early this morning logging operations were halted on the Westside post-fire logging project after a daring activist chained himself between two 55 gallon drums filled with concrete at a gate leading into the project area. The non-violent direct action protest was the latest in campaign events triggered by continued logging despite a pending lawsuit. The group announced plans for a public rally at the same location on August 13.
Youth Protest Pollution from Klamath Strait Drain
A group of youth including inter-tribal teens, orchestrated three dynamic protests to demand a thorough clean up of the polluting Klamath Strait Drain, which pumps polluted water into the Klamath River, harming down river communities and Klamath salmon.
What has the Supreme Court done with your civil rights lately?
Last week, the Supreme Court issued a number of opinions that will affect the civil rights of millions of Americans. First, the court ruled that during DUI arrests, police can take warrantless breathalyzer tests, but not warrantless blood-draws. Second, the court ruled that universities may implement “race-conscious” affirmative action admission policies. Third, the court deadlocked 4-4 on President Obama’s “deferred-deportation” policy for undocumented immigrants, which leaves in place a lower court preliminary injunction against implementation of that policy.
Federal appeals court rejects police use of taser against man recovering from diabetic seizure
Last month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, which sets legal precedent for the states of Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, ruled that a jury could find that police used unconstitutional excessive force when they tasered a man recovering from a diabetic seizure.
CLDC: Providing legal support for Break Free
Please support CLDC in coordinating legal support for those arrested at Break Free, as well as our continued work to have the backs of those who are fighting back against the corporations that are fueling climate change.
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