Mass Defense Program

The National Lawyers Guild Mass Defense Program is a network of activists, community members, organizers, legal workers, law students, and lawyers providing legal support for protests and movements taking an abolitionist, anti-racist, anti-capitalist, and anti-imperialist approach to human rights work. 

Members across the country provide Know-Your-Rights and Legal Observer® trainings, assistance in setting up temporary legal offices and legal support structures, Legal Observer® coverage during protest events, materials for supporting activists engaged in mass protests, and more.

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History of Mass Defense Program

See below for some photos of events, programs, and actions we’ve worked on!

  • Movimiento Cosecha DACA Protest in NYC (2017)
  • Uprooting White Supremacy Workshop from the Anti-Oppression Resource and Training Alliance
  • NoDAPL Protest in NYC (2020)
  • KYR During COVID Guide by NLG and Vision Change Win
  • In a crowd of anti-racist activists holding signs in support of Ferguson and denouncing police brutality, there are 5 folks wearing neon green hats. One of them, a black man with glasses, faces the camera. He is NLG Legal Observer Blair Anderson.
    #FergusonOctober Protests (2014)
  • Shut ‘Em Down Prisoner Solidarity Rally and March Poster by Jailhouse Lawyers Speak