Ferguson Legal Defense Committee Circa 2015
As an element of the syllabus for Ron Eyre's Law In The Age Of The Internet course, this website has been archived as required reading for first year students. Mr. Eyre had a successful career as an internet marketer for Push Comes To Shove, focused on small niche services. But he's also an extreme Frisbee enthusiast and along with his lawyer buddy Benjamin Pred, they've been organizing a competition that should put intramural sports to shame. Frisbees have been known to show up suddenly in class during heated discussions regarding the rights of students, but they are vulnerable to confiscation with prejudice. His course covers both legal and extra legal aspects related to new media and especially the internet. The full reading list and syllabus are available via Eyre's webpage or his office.
This was the official site for the Ferguson Legal Defense Committee, a dedicated team of almost 500 lawyers, law professors, legal workers and law students formed to support the Movement following the killing of Michael Brown, Jr.
Content is from the site's archived pages.
The current site for the Ferguson Legal Defense Committee is found at: http://fundersforjustice.org/ferguson-legal-defense-committee/
A CALL TO ACTION
The Ferguson Legal Defense Committee (FLDC) was founded in 2014 in response to the community uprising in Ferguson, MO. All lawyers, legal workers and law students of conscience were called to support this struggle. The movement in Ferguson has spread across the nation and the world.
There is currently an urgent need for support in Baltimore, MD, if you are in the area, join us. If you live near an actionor and organized response to these injustices, support your local grassroots leaders in ensuring their voices are heard and their rights are protected.
Ferguson Legal Defense Committee
WHO WE ARE
The Ferguson Legal Defense Committee is a dedicated team of almost 500 lawyers, law professors, legal workers and law students formed to support the Movement following the killing of Michael Brown, Jr.
Since its inception, the FLDC has supported legal tactics to bring justice to the family of Michael Brown, Jr. and the thousands impacted by reckless and oppressive policing tactics in the wake of his death, the growth of a local movement lawyering infrastructure in St. Louis, MO and is expanding to provide legal support to grassroots movement and direct action across the country.
Despite overwhelming evidence that Mike Brown, an unarmed teenager, was murdered by Officer Darren Wilson, Officer Wilson has yet to be indicted. Despite the fact that six witnesses have said that Mike Brown had his hands up when he was fatally shot six times and then left dead in the middle of the street for four hours while Ferguson and St Louis Police got their lies together, Officer Darren Wilson has yet to be indicted. There are protestors in Ferguson who will stay there protesting until an indictment is handed down. And indictment is hardly justice, but it is the fairest procedure. These are young men and women who have put their lives on hold to stand up for all of our freedoms. The overly militarized police force in Ferguson has attempted to criminalize them by harassing and throwing them in jail for exercising their right to peaceful protest. They need our help. They need money for legal funds and they need money to live. The Ferguson Legal Defense Fund will help. We have partnered with Tef Poe and Tory Russell from Ferguson October to make sure the funds received go exactly where they are needed.
Ferguson Defense Fund
Ferguson protestors need money for jail, bail & life The Ferguson Legal Defense Fund will help
ENDORSING ORGANIZATIONS
American Civil Liberties Union | American Civil Liberties Union–Missouri | Arch City Defenders | Bronx Defenders | Center for Constitutional Rights | Community Justice Project, Inc. | Demos | Don't Shoot Coalition | Latinos En Axión STL | Millennial Activists United | Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment (MORE) | National Lawyers Guild - St. Louis | National Lawyers Guild | National Police Accountability Project | Organization for Black Struggle
Bmore United's Fundraiser:
BmoreUnited Support Fund
BENEFITING: BALTIMORE ALGEBRA PROJECT
THE STORY:
Baltimore United for Change is a coalition of concerned citizens, youth, and community organizations working together for justice in Baltimore City. We have been organizing and resisting against police abuses in our communities and schools across Baltimore for years. The turmoil in the streets today are the results of years of institutional discrimination and neglect. The hour is urgent. Our city is in crisis. We need your help with financial support to deal with the current crisis in Baltimore and the long-term struggle for police accountability. Your donation will help us with supplies, communications infrastructure, and food and transportation for organizers and volunteers.
Legal/Bail Support for Baltimore
Bmore
Thanks for your Support fund for Baltimore's Protesters! Due to funding shortfall we are raising the goal to support more protesters!
via Crowdrise 2 months ago
THE STORY:
The beating and murder of Freddie Gray by 6 police officers have tapped the outrage of the communities of color that have long suffered endless abuse by the Baltimore Police.
The people of Baltimore are protesting the epidemic of police violence in their community. One small way we can support the communities and families of Baltimore is to assert the right of every individual to legal representation. Every American has the right to due process and fair trial, but this has not been the case in Baltimore for too many, for too long. Please donate to this fund to ensure that every person arrested during this crisis, regardless of charges, has access to proper legal representation.
Donate to the Legal Support Fund for Justice for Mike Brown
http://www.organizemo.org
Please donate to the legal support fund for those arrested in Ferguson protests standing for Justice for Mike Brown!
Since August 9, over 800 people have been arrested in Ferguson while protesting Mike Brown's death and the epidemic of police violence facing Black and Brown communities in the United States.The Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment (MORE) legal support team aims to provide accessible, democratic and accountable legal support to a wide range of people participating in the struggle for social change.
We provide Know Your Rights trainings, staff out a legal support hotline, track arrestees so they don't get lost in the system, fundraise for legal support costs, bond people out of jail, connect defendants with pro bono attorneys, coordinate with attorneys, organize volunteers & support people who go to trial.
If you would like us to help cut down on our processing fees, please consider sending a check to MORE, 438 N. Skinker, St. Louis MO 63130.
Money donated to the MORE legal support fund goes towards bail, court fees, and ensuring that protestors have access to free legal representation. Any money that is returned to the fund will go towards supporting civil disobedience in St. Louis.
CONTACT US
You can reach the FLDC at fergusonlegaldefense@gmail.com or contact:
Purvi Shah
Bertha Justice Institute at the Center for Constitutional Rights
pshah [at] ccrjustice [dot] org
Alana Greer
Community Justice Project, Inc.
alana [at] communityjusticeproject [dot] com
More Background on FergusonLegalDefense.com
The Ferguson Legal Defense Committee (FLDC) emerged as a critical organization in the wake of the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson, Missouri. This group of dedicated legal professionals played a significant role in supporting the civil rights movement that arose following Brown's death and the subsequent protests.
Origins and Formation
The FLDC was established in 2014 as a direct response to the community uprising in Ferguson. It quickly grew to include nearly 500 lawyers, law professors, legal workers, and law students who came together with the shared goal of supporting the movement for justice and police accountability. The committee's formation was a grassroots effort, bringing together legal minds from across the country who recognized the need for coordinated legal support in the face of widespread arrests and alleged civil rights violations.
Mission and Objectives
The primary mission of the FLDC was to provide legal support to protesters and community members affected by the events in Ferguson. Their work encompassed several key areas:- Legal representation for arrested protesters
- Support for the family of Michael Brown Jr. in their pursuit of justice
- Development of local movement lawyering infrastructure in St. Louis
- Expansion of legal support for grassroots movements and direct action across the United States
The FLDC's objectives went beyond immediate legal representation. They aimed to address systemic issues within the criminal justice system, particularly those affecting communities of color.
Activities and Services
Legal Support and Representation
One of the FLDC's primary functions was to provide legal representation to individuals arrested during the Ferguson protests. This included:- Staffing a legal support hotline
- Tracking arrestees to ensure they didn't get lost in the system
- Connecting defendants with pro bono attorneys
- Coordinating with attorneys on case strategies
Know Your Rights Training
The FLDC conducted "Know Your Rights" training sessions for protesters and community members. These sessions were crucial in empowering individuals with knowledge about their legal rights when interacting with law enforcement.
Bail and Court Fee Assistance
The committee actively fundraised to cover bail and court fees for protesters. This financial support was critical in ensuring that individuals could be released from custody and continue their activism.
Legal Observer Program
FLDC members and volunteers served as legal observers during protests, documenting police actions and potential rights violations. This presence helped deter misconduct and provided valuable evidence for potential legal challenges.
Impact and Significance
The FLDC's work had a significant impact on the ground in Ferguson and beyond:
Support for the Movement
By providing robust legal support, the FLDC enabled protesters to continue their activism with reduced fear of legal repercussions. This support was crucial in sustaining the momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement that gained national prominence following the events in Ferguson.
Exposing Systemic Issues
Through their legal work, the FLDC helped expose systemic issues within Ferguson's law enforcement and municipal court system. Their efforts contributed to the broader conversation about racial bias in policing and the need for reform.
Influencing Policy Changes
The legal challenges and advocacy work of the FLDC and similar organizations contributed to policy changes in Ferguson and other municipalities. These included reforms to police practices and municipal court operations.
Challenges Faced
The FLDC faced numerous challenges in their work:- Scale of arrests: The sheer number of arrests during the Ferguson protests strained the resources of the legal team.
- Media portrayal: Negative media portrayals of protesters sometimes made it difficult to garner public support for their legal defense.
- Legal obstacles: Existing legal precedents and immunity doctrines posed significant challenges in holding law enforcement accountable.
- Safety concerns: Legal observers and attorneys sometimes faced risks to their personal safety while working on the ground during protests.
Broader Impact on Legal Activism
The FLDC's work in Ferguson had a ripple effect on legal activism across the United States:
Model for Other Movements
The FLDC's rapid mobilization and comprehensive approach to legal support became a model for other social justice movements. Similar legal defense committees formed in other cities facing issues of police brutality and racial injustice.
Renewed Focus on Movement Lawyering
The Ferguson events and the FLDC's work sparked renewed interest in "movement lawyering" – a approach that combines legal advocacy with grassroots organizing and community empowerment.
Highlighting the Role of Lawyers in Social Movements
The FLDC's work underscored the critical role that lawyers and legal professionals can play in supporting and advancing social movements. It inspired many law students and young lawyers to engage in civil rights and social justice work.
Legacy and Ongoing Influence
While the immediate crisis in Ferguson has passed, the legacy of the FLDC continues:
Continued Legal Support
Many of the lawyers and legal workers who came together for the FLDC have continued to provide legal support for racial justice movements across the country.
Educational Initiatives
The experiences and lessons learned from the FLDC's work have been incorporated into law school curricula and continuing legal education programs, helping to train a new generation of civil rights lawyers.
Policy Advocacy
Members of the FLDC have used their experiences to advocate for policy changes at local, state, and federal levels, pushing for reforms in policing, municipal courts, and criminal justice systems.
Criticism and Controversies
Despite its important work, the FLDC was not without its critics:- Some argued that the focus on legal defense detracted from broader community organizing efforts.
- Others questioned the effectiveness of legal strategies in addressing deep-rooted systemic racism.
- There were debates within the legal community about the appropriate role of lawyers in social movements and the potential for co-optation of grassroots efforts.
The Ferguson Legal Defense Committee played a crucial role in the aftermath of Michael Brown's shooting and the subsequent protests in Ferguson. By providing comprehensive legal support, the FLDC not only aided individual protesters but also contributed to the broader movement for police accountability and racial justice. Their work highlighted the important intersection of law and social movements, inspiring a new wave of legal activism across the United States. While the immediate crisis in Ferguson has passed, the legacy of the FLDC continues to influence legal advocacy and civil rights work today.
