Dear ,

Welcome to our tenth Member Recap of the year. We're combining October and November, so this is a big one!

The National Office wants to extend a thank you to everyone who attended our annual convention, in person or online! Over 300 of you showed up, and we could not be happier to have had the chance to connect and be in community with you.

The National Office wants to also congratulate Ría Thompson-Washington on being the Guild's first Black Latine, non-binary president! The NLG continues on its mission of becoming a more just and inclusive organization, where everyone's talents can come together and make change for our communities.

The #Law4ThePeople convention in Alabama was the first time that the convention was done in a hybrid model, and the first time we met in person since 2020! A huge thank you to our host, the Alabama Chapter, for their work and guidance in making sure we had a successful convention. During this year's convention, the metaphorical and literal presidential baton was passed, marking the official beginning of Ría's presidency! With new leaders in place, the Guild is beginning a new chapter in the Guild's history. The convention also marked the 20th anniversary of the Alabama Manifesto, which created the The United People Of Color Caucus (TUPOCC). At the convention, founders of TUPOCC reflected on what it meant at the time, the work it has done to shape the Guild, and how TUPOCC can serve as a guide for the Guild's future.

We were also honored to have Noura Erakat and Jaribu Hill as our keynote speakers. Our thanks go them for sharing their battles, knowledge, and care about the world with us. The convention also could not have happened without all of the presenters and speakers, who shared their experiences in a myriad of fields. Thank you all.

We are also excited to share with all of our membership the recordings of the convention! Please visit: https://www.nlg.org/members-only/member-webinars/ to learn how to access them. Note, you will have to be a current member, and log into your member account to access it.

The NLG National Executive Committee met during the 2024 #Law4thePeople Convention that was held in Birmingham, Alabama from October 30-November 3, 2024. 

The first session of the NEC meeting was held on the first day of the Convention on October 30th. NEC members discussed remaining Convention matters such as preparation for the plenaries, meetings, and volunteer tasks. NEC representatives on the NLG Foundation board also presented matters to be discussed at the NLGF meeting such as a funding request for additional administrative support for the National Office and nominations to the NLGF Board. Finally, the NEC discussed its fiduciary responsibilities and fundraising initiatives to ensure the fiscal health of the organization. 

The second session of the NEC meeting was held on the final day of the Convention on November 3rd. NEC members reflected on the successes and challenges faced throughout the Convention and continued onto business matters such as the Q4 Finance Report presented by the Interim Treasurer, Amy Willis, current issues facing the National Office, and further discussion on NEC fundraising commitments. NEC members that serve on the NLGF board also announced that following the NEC’s unanimous nomination of John Brittain, Judy Somberg, Jeff Petrucelly, and David Gespass to the NLGF board, the NLGF board voted to appoint all four nominees to the NLGF board. There will be an intentional focus on recruiting and training the next generation of NLGF leaders in this coming year. NEC members also engaged in a political discussion on the then-pending U.S. Presidential election and the role of the NLG in responding to protest needs following the election cycle. The meeting ended in an executive session. 

In the closing of the first session, the words of George Jackson were paraphrased by TUPOCC Chair Justice Gatson: “Whatever quarrel or disagreement that we might think we have right now, put that aside and do we see what we have in front of us. Our liberation is bound with each other. I don’t get free unless you get free; you don’t get free unless I get free.”

The National Office Needs You!

The National Office is reaching out to solicit short articles, essays, book reviews, and analyses for the NLG Blog for 2025! We are looking for pieces that are around 2,500 words or less (longer submissions can be sent to NLG Review the Guild's law journal).

Now more than ever, we feel that the political and legal perspectives of NLG members, faculty, and scholars can help fight back against increasing repression and misinformation!

While we are open to writing on any topic related to the NLG's mission, we are particularly interested in any pieces addressing issues such as:

   - Immigration, Mass Deportations, and Asylum Law
   - Legislation targeting trans and queer people
   - Abolition of prisons and policing
   - Ongoing efforts to Stop Cop Cities
   - Political persecution of activists
   - Reproductive justice and criminalization of abortion
   - Attacks against mutual aid activities and funds
   - Criminalization of homelessness
   - Privatization of public goods and services
   - International solidarity with Palestine, Cuba, Sudan, and more!

If you are interested, please email me at traci@nlg.org and copy
communications@nlg.org to pitch any ideas and discuss a timeline.

Want to Get In Touch With Fellow NLG Members?

The NLG National Office Director of Membership, Lisa Drapkin, created this useful guide on the different email listservs that we use as the Guild. Use this document to help guide you through the process of signing up and engaging with members who share your same interests or region.

Did You Know The NLG Has A Members-only Job Board?

You can view current job openings at https://www.nlg.org/job-board/. If you are interested in posting a job, please email jobboard@nlg.org.

International Lawyers Condemn Police Raid On Human Rights Activist Charlotte Kates’ Home

The International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) strongly condemns the recent and disturbing police raid targeting the home of human rights activist Charlotte Kates by the Vancouver Police Department in Canada. Charlotte is a well-known and tireless advocate for human rights for the longest time not only for Palestinians but of all repressed peoples across the globe. She is also a longstanding member of the IADL. IADL, founded in 1946 is a non governmental organization dedicated to the goals of the UN Charter and has a long history of protecting human rights defenders.