The cover of Woody Guthrie’s Resistance "All You Fascists Bound To Lose" by the Resistance Revival Chorus with Rhiannon Giddens is an important reminder of the history of anti-facism in the United States as well as solidarity with international anti-fascism. There have been moments in this country where anti-fascism was the norm: the abolition movement of the 1800s, the majority during WWII, and for anyone opposing the war in Vietnam, the ongoing legacy of slavery and Jim Crow laws; the targeting of women, LGBTQ, and gender expansive communities; the targeting of Jews, Muslims and other ethnic and religious minorities; and resistance to the exploitation of people and valuing of property and profit over human life, dignity and freedom. 

During Saturday’s Forum on Electoral and Voter Defense, NLG-SF members talked about the ways NLG members can support a basic safe-guard against fascism - the right to vote (as limited as it already is, it’s facing obliteration). We discussed ways for us to defend those who put their bodies on the line at polling places to document activity, to monitor polls, and to literally and physically defend the rights of those coming to vote against the call by Trump for fascist and alt-right intimidation. Below is the recording, and a separate email went out with resources and opportunities for NLG members to get involved. 

We will also be gearing up our post-election response on all fronts: public Know Your Rights and security education and training, Demonstrations readiness to mobilize hotline workers, mass demonstration attorneys and legal workers, Federal Defense Committee readiness to respond to FBI and law enforcement visits and warrants, federal charges, raids and grand juries. One of our partners, the Anti-Repression Committee, is ready to post bail and mobilize mass defense against repression along with the NLG and our movement partners. 

On Saturday, October 17, in San Francisco, we saw the Proud Boys forced to retreat by the strong showing of anti-fascists. Consistent with their past cowardice, they left reactionary people of color on stage speaking in support of Trump, white nationalist and fascist forces. Anti-fascists of all colors and genders responded, throwing bottles and trash. On Sunday, October 18, an anti-fascist was arrested and extradited to San Francisco. This antifascist is facing mayhem charges and a hate crime enhancement for punching a Proud Boy’s teeth out.

Whether or not the charges stick, they are part of an ongoing strategy by white nationalists, fascists and others in the ultra-right to entangle anti-fascists in long criminal and civil litigation cases (the latter being funded by ultra-right think tanks and foundations). As the NLG, we are gearing up to create some basic information on the consequences of diverse tactics, as well as ways to limit the liability of those employing them and the liability of the? movement more broadly. In addition, we will continue to put out information on new charges we are seeing during this moment, where laws and strategies that  we have often used to defend social justice movements are now being used to attack us. 

It’s a reminder that until we have full political, economic and social rights - and a very different government, society and economic system - these protections are fragile. Yet, they are worth defending as we see them threatened with extinction.

Sara Kershnar, Interim Executive Director

From now until the election, we will be posting news links and opportunities for NLG-SF members to get involved and informed in electoral work - whether electoral defense or voter mobilization and protections. Please send action and organizing opportunities to sara@nlgsf.org.

Seeking:

1. An attorney to consult with a community member who was injured at Planned Parenthood in Walnut Creek by private security hired by anti-abortion protesters.

Please email demonstrations@nlgsf.org if you can support.

2. Lawyers and law students willing to advise prisoners on the process of filing and drafting pro se claims.

Please contact srjhotline@nlgsf.org.

Bay Area Legal Aid Releases Letter about GTL Costs; NLG-SF signs on

Earlier this month, Bay Area Legal Aid sent a public letter to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors regarding the Sheriff’s contract with Global Tel*Link (GTL), a communication services provider which charges prisoners and their loved ones extremely high fees for basic services such as phone calls and video visits. The cost of a 25-minute phone call averages $5.25, while a 25-minute video session averages $6.25. GTL also charges a transaction fee of $5.95 each time someone adds money to a prepaid account, regardless of the amount of money deposited.

The quality of communication delivered by GTL is consistently poor. Phone calls – including calls between prisoners and their attorneys – are frequently dropped and suffer from feedback and echoes. Video visits are also of poor quality, with the quality often reduced further to account for “connectivity issues.” Additionally, NLG-SF Santa Rita Jail Hotline callers frequently report that they are never summoned for video visits by deputies. This results in family members spending over $6 just to see an empty room, and creates frustration for prisoners who are hoping to meet with attorneys and advocates.

Bay Area Legal Aid reports that Santa Rita jail receives a commission of at least $2.3 million dollars a year in exchange for the GTL contract:

“This commission is grossly misguided, as it simply shifts the costs of maintaining jail programs to those incarcerated and their families—predominantly people of color, people with disabilities, and people who are already struggling to make ends meet. Commissions like these are effectively a punitive tax to build revenue and supplement jail budgets, at the expense of the very people they are stated to support—and the very people least able to afford it.[1] While this commission represents a huge sum to raise on the backs of poor communities, it is less than 1% of the Alameda County Sheriff Office’s annual budget.”

The letter was signed by the National Lawyers Guild – SF Bay Area, along with the ACLU of Northern California, Asian Prisoner Support Committee, Bay Area Community Services, Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, East Bay Community Law Center, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Homeless Action Center, and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area.

READ THE LETTER HERE 

REMINDER: NLG-SF and Santa Rita Jail Solidarity publish Weekly Updates from Santa Rita Jail

The NLG-SF Hotline for Santa Rita Jail releases weekly reports on COVID-19 and conditions in Santa Rita Jail, which are published at here and in the future will also be published on the NLG-SF website.

Download a PDF of last week’s update 

The Santa Rita Jail population is now at the highest level, 2123 prisoners, since March when the population stood at 2,597. Many Santa Rita Jail Hotline callers fear another COVID-19 outbreak, and have warned that the increasing population leaves little room for social distancing. The latest outbreak began on September 17 and infected at least 18 people. Between September 18 and September 22, active cases increased by more than 450%, and at least six housing pods were quarantined. In the week since the outbreak was first discovered, ACSO tested less than 15% of the jail population. It was only by October 12, nearly one month later, that the jail reported zero active cases. Cases remained at zero until Monday, October 19.

The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) is currently reporting one person infected with COVID-19. There are currently 9 “RED” patients. RED patients include both patients with COVID-19 symptoms awaiting test results, and patients with positive COVID-19 results. As of October 19, the jail reported only four pending COVID-19 tests, meaning that there are four people experiencing COVID-19 symptoms who are unaccounted for by the Sheriff’s COVID-19 dashboard.

- - -

The Santa Rita Jail Hotline works directly with prisoners to determine how they were exposed to Covid-19 and whether the care they are receiving is adequate. The content of hotline calls can suggest a very different reality than what is being presented to the public. If you are interested to become a hotline worker, please fill out this form.

Demonstrations in the Bay Area

On Monday, October 12, Legal Observers traveled to Morgan Hill as members of CARAS staged a march from the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center to the Morgan Hill ICE office to protest injustices against people in immigration detention.

Also on Monday, October 12, Defund SFPD convened a march in the Tenderloin from Otis & Gough to the SFPD Tenderloin substation, to protest the killing of Cesar Antonio Vargas on October 10. Two Legal Observers were present, and there were no arrests.

On Tuesday, October 13, the United Front Against Displacement and community members mobilized in West Oakland to prevent the eviction of Wood Street encampment residents, who were served an eviction notice by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office. Ultimately, the eviction was not carried out but residents would like the community to remain vigilant. Three legal observers were present, and there were no incidents at the action. Several OPD SUVs surveyed the defense crowd at the encampment at 9:55 am, and after ~15 minutes left the scene.

On Saturday, October 17, Bay Area antifascists, SURJ – Bay Area, and many others mobilized at Civic Center in San Francisco for a counter-protest against a “free speech rally” organized by Proud Boys and Team Save America. Antifascist counter-protesters outnumbered the right-wing activists, and marched down Market Street to South Van Ness and back. Counter-protesters experienced aggression and intimidation by SFPD, who pointed guns at counter-protesters, beat their batons on metal barricades, and deployed both tear gas and pepper spray against the crowd. SFPD also shot a protester in the groin/upper thigh with a foam projectile shot, and at least 4 protesters were injured by baton blows.

There were no arrests onsite. However, on Sunday 10/18, a counter-protester who attended the demonstration was tracked to Oakland and arrested in the community. The protester’s charges are currently mayhem with a hate crime enhancement, and they were detained in San Francisco. Bail was not requested by the DA, but sought directly from a judicial officer. The SF Chronicle published an account of the incident which included the arrestee’s name, and as a result Proud Boys and other right-wing groups are attempting to dox the arrestee as well as other counter-protesters on Twitter.

On Monday, October 19, Defund SFPD organized a community gathering in front of SFPD headquarters at 1251 3rd Street, to protest the killing of Cesar Antonio Vargas and to livestream the audio from a town hall meeting intended to account for his death. Body footage worn by SFPD officers reveals that they shot Cesar Vargas four times. There was one Legal Observer present, who remarked that SFPD officers outnumbered the small crowd. There were no incidents or arrests.

Please contact demonstrations@nlgsf.org with questions.

RESOURCES 

IMMIGRANTSRIGHTS.ORG HAS CAPACITY FOR MORE REMOVAL DEFENSE CASES

The nonprofit organization Immigrants Rights currently has capacity to take on more removal defense cases. They offer low-cost legal representation in immigration courts for non-detained cases. Their main office is in Salinas, and they have attorneys in San Francisco. They also assist clients on other immigration petitions and applications such as waivers, family petitions, adjustments of status, U visas, naturalization applications, etc. For court representation, the individual must be located in Northern California. Call 831-256-1578 to set up a free consultation. Spanish language fliers with Immigrants Rights’ services 

NLG SF Bay Area is looking for a new Immigration Justice Program Director!

April Newman is leaving the position at the end of the year, and we seek a strong immigration advocate to lead the program in 2021. The role entails running the immigration court watch and accountability program, putting on CLE and train-the-trainer know-your-rights trainings, growing partnerships and working with the Immigration Committee, and keeping the community informed and engaged with updates in the chapter newsletter. 

The position will be half-time with full benefits. To apply, please send a cover letter, references, and resume to migrantjustice@nlgsf.org, and CC sara@nlgsf.org