ACLU Affiliate Involvement With the Occupy Movement Around the Country
November 4, 2011
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Alaska
Alaska
Occupy Activities May 2012
Fielding legal queries from Occupy Fairbanks.
Arkansas
Arkansas
Occupy Activities October 2011
Distrubuted copies of Know Your Rights materials for protesters and for dealing with the police.
Talked to protesters in Little Rock and gave practical advice about dealing with the police (such as asking police for business cards, asking if they are on or off duty, and taking license plate numbers of the police both surreptitiously and openly).
Contacted Little Rock city officials to facilitate communications with protesters
Provided protesters with ACLU resources about their rights when protesting, camping and photographing police.
Legal team coordinating representation in Phoenix to ensure that people arrested have adequate criminal representation during their initial appearances before the courts.
Working to convince Tuscon city officials to drop the charges against the 100 or so protesters who face various criminal citations.
Participated in meeting with San Francisco supervisors, members of police commission and chief of police to negotiate rules about protesters
Filed Public records request (jointly with the National Lawyers’ Guild) with the Oakland Police Department and Oakland Mayor Jean Quan asking the city to immediately produce records about the use of force in responding to Occupy Oakland demonstrations
Attorney attended a BART board meeting and raised issue of nearest stations to Occupy Oakland and Occupy San Francisco to keep protesters from going from Oakland to San Francisco in solidarity. April 2012
Filed a lawsuit against the Oakland Police Department.
Filed a lawsuit against UC Davis on beahlf of students over pepper-spraying incident.
Filed a lawsuit against Alameda County DA over stay away orders issued to Occupy Oakland protesters.
Communicating with the police chief to express concern over the arrest of the Occupy San Diego protesters, urging him to drop the charges, release the protesters, and find an alternative space and way to accommodate overnight protest activity.
Southern California
Occupy Activities October 2011
Distributed Know Your Rights, What to do if Stopped by the Police, and First Amendment Rights materials.
Provided observers with Know Your Rights materials at Occupy Boulder and Occupy Denver.
Launched an investigation regarding a rise in police force and possible abuse at the Occupy Denver site. We requested after-action reports detailing police actions from the Denver Department of Public Safety and the Colorado State Patrol.
Providing Know Your Rights information and attending meetings, consulting by email to monitor situation and assist if needed. November 2011
Filed a lawsuit against the City of Wilmington on behalf of the Occupy protesters after demonstrators were forced to vacate Peter Spencer Plaza.
Obtained a 24 hour temporary restraining order allowing Occupy Delaware to occupy city land. We won the restraining order and the City of Wilmington negotiated an agreement with Occupy Denver that allowed them to remain indefinitely. April 2012
On Monday 4/23/2012, the Wilmington Mayor announced that he was evicting Occupy Denver as of 5/1/12. We are in process of negotiating with the City and preparing a lawsuit should that become necessary.
In Tampa, monitoring the situation, giving advice to protesters, and negotiating informally with city leaders and the police department.
In Tallahassee, local Chapter provided advice and countered the city when it tried to require a liability insurance policy before the protestors would be allowed to assemble, resulting in the city backing down. Also successfully opposed the county when it told protestors that they would have to pay for additional police services for the protest.
ACLU-FL Northeast Florida Regional Office and Northeast Florida Chapter on hand to provide protestor rights education and materials on the ground and online in Jacksonville, Gainesville, St. Augustine, Atlantic Beach and Jacksonville Beach. Facebook page providing links to various public education materials including protester’s rights brochures, police stop cards, and Dissent Is Patriotic posters.
Offered advice to protestors in Fort Meyers regarding liability insurance requirements and they subsequently filed a lawsuit against the city.
Held Know Your Rights sessions with demonstrators on protests and documenting police encounters
Created First Amendment Toolkit for protesters (APEC, Deoccupy, Labor, etc) in newsprint version and online versions
In advance of APEC, helped a local group, 'World Can't Wait,' to get a permit. ACLU-HI staff have met with several local protest groups over the last few months to talk about lawful protest and to take questions
Gave advice to Occupy Des Moines/Iowa regarding permit for the statehouse grounds, and got protesters to contact the city to obtain an alternative site across from the capitol
Idaho
Idaho
Occupy Activities October 2011
Conducted Know Your Rights trainings with local attorneys and distributed materials to Occupy Boise gatherings
Held legal observer training for 25 people
The Federal Court decided to let Occupy Boise keep their vigil under First Amendment protected political speech.
Illinois
Illinois
Occupy Activities October 2011
Staff in Chicago observing police activities, taking photos, and handing out Know Your Rights materials
Engaging with OccupyChicago over twitter and pointing them towards our Know Your Rights materials
Distributing Know Your Rights materials in Indianapolis
Meeting with protest organizers
Representing an Occupy group in Indiana, and have written to the Indiana Attorney General requesting his approval of a petition for Occupiers to camp overnight on the grounds of the Indiana State House.
Involved in Boston as other key cities with Occupy movements around the state, providing Know Your Rights and other materials
Working with other advocates on legal strategies and responses
Put out a call for arrestees to contact ACLU if they were mistreated or questioned about their political activities and associations.
Working with a coalition of lawyers on strategies to protect the right to demonstrate and assemble. November 2011
Went to court seeking a preliminary injunction to protect the rights for demonstrators at Occupy Boston in Dewey Square. We were denied the injunction.
Observing the protests and meeting with the protestors.
Handing out materials and doing a teach-in on Know Your Rights. November 2011
Sent a letter to Hennepin County asking them to rescind the new restrictions placed on OccupyMN protests at the Hennepin County Government Center Plaza.
Filed a lawsuit against Hennepin County Nov. 22 on behalf of Occupy Minneapolis
Gave extensive advice to St. Louis protesters on interacting with the police as they negotiate their on-going presence in a city park.
Offered legal advice about camping overnight and explained the legalities at an OccupySTL General Assembly.
Researched past St. Louis events to determine if the curfew laws had been selectively applied.
Served as a legal observer during on-the-ground discussions with police officers.
Providing legal advice and proposed modifications regarding a permit that the city is proposing.
Held a screening of '10 Rules for Dealing with the Police' video and held subsequent discussion
Kansas and W. Missouri
Occupy Activities October 2011
Provided legal advice to Occupy group in Lawrence
Mississippi
Mississippi
Occupy Activities October 2011
Worked with the Occupy Jackson protesters, provided protesters with Know Your Rights flyers and cards, as well as information on how to reach the ACLU of Mississippi.
Occupy Jackson invited the ACLU to attend a general forum and give a presentation about protesters rights.
Spoke to Occupy Raleigh at their general assembly.
Sent letter in support of protesters' request for an extended permit to use the capitol grounds.
Communicated with local groups over Twitter and made them aware of Know Your Rights materials.
Providing legal representation to a disabled woman who was arrested while demonstrating at Occupy Raleigh when police told her she couldn't sit in a chair, as her condition required.
Nebraska
Nebraska
Occupy Activities October 2011
Provided legal observers for a march and rally that initiated the Occupy event.
Observing the tent city along a two-block mall between the Capitol Building and State Office Building.
New Jersey
New Jersey
Occupy Activities October 2011
Filed a lawsuit on behalf of Occupy Trenton, argued in court on behalf of the rights of Occupy Trenton to protest at a public park across the street from the Statehouse. November 2011
Won temporary restraining order in favor of Occupy Trenton protesters. State must return all belongings to protesters by November 14.
Legal observers at every major event, training protestors and distributing our Know Your Rights cards, which have also been printed onto water bottles.
Collecting stories, photos and videos about police behavior related to the protest.
Conducted Know Your Rights presentations and passed out Know Your Rights public education materials.
Protest monitoring during marches.
Collecting stories from protesters and people who have been arrested via protest@nyclu.org.
Creating an online community around the protest issues via Twitter and Facebook
State chapters are doing protest monitoring and talking to protesters in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany.
Monitering developments at Occupy Rochester which include people being arrested at a demonstration in a public park.
State chapters are doing protest monitoring and talking to protesters in Buffalo, Nyack, Syracuse, Albany, Utica and Suffern.
Working with many Occupy Ohio groups throughout the state, providing legal advice and 'How to protest' cards.
Organized a program called 'Built on Dissent' in Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo. Program includes a discussion between constitutional and criminal defense attorneys and Occupiers about the effectiveness and limits of the First Amendment.
Distributed Know Your Rights material to protesters at Occupy activities around the state, including: Allentown, Altoona, Bethlehem, Erie, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Williamsport.
Involved in negotiations with the city over permit and services regarding Occupy Philadelphia. Also negotiated with city officials on behalf of Occupy movements in Allentown, Erie, Harrisburg and Lancaster.
Gave Occupy Pittsburgh leaders advice about seeking permits, met with city officials to discuss the permit, which was issued.
Provided legal observers for Occupy Pittsburgh and Occupy Harrisburg.
Participated in a mediation between Occupy Allentown protesters and police regarding signs, tents, and a 24-hour protest.
Made a cooperating attorney available to mediate between protestors and police for Occupy Lancaster.
Provided legal advice to Occupy movements in Allentown, Bethlehem, Erie, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh.
Documenting calls from Occupy Bethlehem, Williamsport and other locations across the state
Distributed Know Your Rights and How to Protest materials.
Referred some local Occupy groups to local counsel who could be observers or provide guidance
Issued a press release addressing a possible violation of First Amendment rights after the Governor evicted Occupiers from the Statehouse grounds; some arrests were made during the eviction.
South Dakota
South Dakota
Occupy Activities October 2011
Emailed Know Your Rights materials including bust card, photographer's rights, and a reminder to report police mistreatment of protesters to the local ACLU.
Tennessee
Tennessee
Occupy Activities October 2011
Distributed 'Right to Protest' brochure in cities across the state
Won temporary restraining order from a federal judge requiring the state to stop arresting Occupy Nashville protesters at Legislative Plaza.
Provided links to resources: 'Your Right to Protest in Salt Lake City,' 'What to do if you are a Victim of Police Misconduct in Utah,' online complaint forms and phone numbers.
Provided contact numbers for attorneys who have agreed to provide pro bono or low cost defense services for those who might get arrested during free speech activities.
Meeting with the city and law enforcement officials
Talking with participants and homeless residents of Pioneer Park to gather information about how they are interacting with the police department.
Helped negotiate a compromise overnight camping agreement in Norfolk, and sent a letter to the Mayor of Richmond
Representing a journalist who was arrested for trespassing while attempting to photograph the police removing 'Occupy' demonstrators from a public park in Richmond. (the photographer was standing in a crosswalk on a public street)
Provided legal information about anti-camping ordinances to Occupy Seattle. Also provided 'Street Speech' and 'Know Your Rights with Law Enforcement' publications, as well as ACLU contact information.
Passed out our bust cards at Occupy Seattle in Westlake.
Sent out an action alert urging our members to share our bust cards and street speech pamphlets with anyone that might be attending Occupy events in other Washington state areas.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Occupy Activities October 2011
Provided legal observer training May 2012
Distributed Know Your Rights information.
Provided legal observers.
Coordinated media coverage related to the eviction of the Occupy Madison encampment.
Wyoming
Wyoming
Occupy Activities October 2011
Monitoring Occupy events around Wyoming, including in Cheyenne, Laramie, Jackson, Casper, and Sheridan.
Providing Know Your Rights information and to organizers and participants
