This Code of Conduct works in accordance with Article 8.5 (Member Censure, Suspension or Expulsion) in the NLG Constitution and applies to all participants in the NLG #Law4thePeople 2020 Convention. The NLG is indebted to the ALPA Affordable Learning Summit, Exchange 2020, Internet Freedom Festival, and other organizations whose Codes of Conduct served as the basis for this code.
Participant Responsibility
All participants are expected to observe these rules and behaviors in all NLG convention activities, including online events and any social media venues affiliated with the convention. Participants asked to stop a hostile, harassing, or dangerous behavior are expected to comply immediately. At the discretion of the NLG, participants may be removed from the convention if the participant’s noncompliance warrants immediate action.
Prohibited Behaviors
Examples of prohibited behaviors include but are not limited to:
- Threats, intimidation, or insults directed against another person or group
- Discrimination of any kind
- Verbal, graphic, or written comments related to age, body size or type, disability, gender, gender identity and expression, nationality or national origin, language, physical appearance, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, education level, or socioeconomic status
- Making or displaying inappropriate comments or gestures of any form or type related to age, body size or type, disability, gender, gender identity and expression, nationality or national origin, language, physical appearance, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, education level, or socioeconomic status
- Stalking (physical or virtual)
- Disruption of talks or other presentations
- Nonconsensual sexual contact or unwanted sexual attention (physical, verbal, or virtual)
- Posting or threatening to post other people’s personally identifying information, either in a public or private forum, without explicit consent from those involved
- Collecting information on convention participants, presenters, or NLG staff or volunteers for adversarial purposes, including but not limited to intelligence gathering, organizational mapping, publication of information without the consent of all involved parties, and sharing with or reporting to any government agencies
- Making recordings of any type of convention events, for any purpose
- Verbal, graphic, or written comments that put any individuals or groups at risk of state repression, violate attorney-client privilege, or violate the work-product privilege of information or materials collected or produced through NLG activities
- Advocating for or encouraging any of the above behavior
Investigation and Consequences
The NLG is an abolitionist organization and does not seek carceral or punitive responses to incidents of harm or damaging behaviors. To the extent possible, violations of this code will be addressed with abolitionist principles. Nevertheless, the NLG takes seriously the safety and security of all participants in NLG events and activities.
Violations of this code witnessed during convention events will be addressed immediately, including by temporarily or permanently removing participants from events or the convention.
If the NLG is notified of a possible violation of this code, a team will be assembled to interview those involved, review evidence, and determine whether a violation did occur. The possible consequences of a violation of this code include but are not limited to a formal warning, removal from the event or the convention as a whole, a ban from future NLG events or activities, and other actions as permitted by the NLG Constitution and Bylaws.
Any removals will not be eligible for a refund of convention fees or NLG dues.
How to Report an Incident
Any participant at the convention who witnesses or experiences a violation of this Code of Conduct should submit a report of that incident to director@nlg.org.
