With the death of Mike
Brown in Ferguson, the
controversial issues of systematic racism and police brutality have captivated
American citizens. In a time when the public outrage and qualms not only about
police officers, but also the legal system that seems to protect those who fail
to “protect and serve” citizens is at an all time high, people
are calling for justice. Attorneys
from across the nation have traveled to Ferguson, Missouri to take their place within the heated
protests to provide legal assistance to protesters who have been arrested, to
monitor and document police behavior, and to provide legal assistance to those
who may not be able to afford representation. As citizens fight for justice
surrounding the incidents in Ferguson, attorneys have been there on the ground
to aid in the fight.
On August 9, 2014, 18-year-old Michael Brown was
shot and killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. Overnight, the small
town in the suburbs of St. Louis became the focus of national attention as
frustrated citizens took
to the streets in protest. While the facts of the case have
been the subject of debate, there is no question that the issue of police
brutality in African American communities has once again shaken citizens’ trust
of law enforcement, and they have had enough. That mistrust escalated on
November 24, 2014, when the African American community, in Ferguson and across
the nation, was devastated to find out that the
grand jury decided not to indict the
officer who killed Mike Brown. As
public mistrust in the law increased, so did the protests. The increase in interaction between police
officers and citizens created a circumstance where the protection of citizens’
rights has been at the forefront of the minds of the legal community.
Attorneys arrived in Ferguson to provide legal
assistance by preparing to file lawsuits for civil rights violations. The
Missouri branch of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has held
training sessions for hundreds of legal observers
following the shooting and after the grand jury decision. The ACLU has also
fitted those attorneys and legal observers with video cameras, developed an app
to upload video of police behavior, and been pivotal in getting police officers
in Ferguson outfitted with body cameras. Lawyers have been in conversation with
local organizations, such as the Don’t Shoot Coalition and Hands Up United, to work with police on ways for police to control
violence and destruction of property, while still respecting the rights of the
protestors afforded to them by the constitution. The nation has had its eyes on
Ferguson, and there has been great
concern on the militarized response and
escalation of force used in Ferguson. Attorneys have been some of the strongest
advocates for allowing citizens to express their frustration with law
enforcement and the judicial system.
The National
Lawyers Guild (NLG) is an organization that has
been at the forefront of providing legal
support in Ferguson. The NLG
was a founding member of the Ferguson Legal Defense Committee that asked legal
practitioners to volunteer as pro bono
representatives for the public. In addition to lending their expertise, lawyers
have been called on to donate to cover such costs as court fees and bail for
protestors, housing for traveling attorneys, and funds to provide training
equipment for legal observers. The NLG has also called on lawyers and law
school students, asking them to be legal
observers and document police activity. Many law school students are interested in protesting but are concerned
about possibly being arrested and the affects that might have on their future
career goals. As legal observers, law students are put in positions where the
police know not to arrest them, and the students are trained to serve the
efforts of justice without jeopardizing their standing.
The widespread protests across the
country give attorneys an opportunity to protect protestors all across the
nation. On July 17, 2014, Eric Garner was placed in a chokehold by a police
officer and was killed in Long Island, New York. The video
of Eric Garner’s death allowed the world to see the circumstances of his
death. On December 3, 2014, the officer that killed Eric Garner was
not indicted by a grand jury. This decision so close to the Ferguson
decision has increased the tension between protestors and law enforcement. All
across the country, from California to New York to Chicago to Washington, D.C.,
thousands have taken to the streets
to protest what they believe is a system that does not provide justice for
the lives of African Americans. The protests have mainly been peaceful.
However, there have been consistent arrests of protestors in each march.
Attorneys often do not have to travel to Ferguson, because there is a need for pro
bono services in their backyard.
As the world continues to look at the
United States due to the sweeping protests across the nation, attorneys have
their focus squarely on justice. Wherever a person may stand on the issues of
each case, whether they believe there should or should not have been an
indictment in Ferguson or New York, the right to protest is an essential facet
of American democracy. Joining the protestors, attorneys and bar associations
have expressed
distrust in the criminal justice system. In the interests of justice,
attorneys have taken to the streets.
By Janissia Orgill
Photo by Freeside510 via Flickr
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