National Lawyers' Guild
212-679-6018
Sylvia Rivera Law Project
(particularly for trans or gender non-conforming people)
212-337-8550
Dear Friends,
As the Republican National Convention approaches, many activists are gearing up to protest, and many are trying to prepare for the onslaught of violent and illegal police action that will we will no doubt be facing. For trans and gender non-conforming people, who often face severe targeting and violence at the hands of the police and in the criminal injustice system, this is an important time to think about being well-prepared. The Sylvia Rivera Law Project is working closely with the National Lawyers' Guild to provide resources for trans and gender non-conforming arrestees during the RNC. NLG is coordinating volunteer attorneys to provide legal assistance to anyone arrested during the RNC, and SRLP is working to provide special assistance to trans and gender non-conforming arrestees based on our experience representing people who face gender identity discrimination in the adult and juvenile criminal injustice systems. Attached, please find a brochure that the two organizations have been working on together which will give basic info about arrest.
Most importantly, IF YOU ARE ARRESTED DURING THE RNC, please call NLG at 212-679-6018. If you are trans or gender non-conforming and you are arrested, or if you know of someone trans or gender non-conforming who is arrested, please call NLG at 212-679-6018 AND SRLP at 212-337-8550. Be aware that NLG will also be informing SRLP of any trans or gender non-conforming people arrested, so if you only get a chance to make one call, call NLG first, and they will call SRLP.
During the past several years, we have seen many trans and gender non-conforming people treated terribly by police and corrections officers during and after protests. It is important to think ahead before attending any protests about what you can do to increase your safety. I hope the attached brochure is helpful, but if it does not answer your questions, feel free to contact NLG or SRLP for further information. We are excited to support trans and gender non-conforming people sending a loud message opposing the war in Iraq, the War on Terror, and all the deadly domestic and international policies promoted by the Bush administration. We hope you'll be safe and well while you speak your message.
In Solidarity,
Dean Spade