Hi all,
This message is from the legal collective that was part of the fight for our rights in Miami during the FTAA protests, Miami Activist Defense. We want to say how proud we are of the beautiful people's movement that came together to stand up against the FTAA and how much it means to be a part of it and do our share. Our commitment and work in the struggle is something no cop can take away. Now that we've left the police state that was Miami, our work continues and we need your help now more than ever to make sure that the police and government are held accountable for the horrible violations of people's rights that occurred.
WE NEED YOUR EVIDENCE:
The legal team isn't gonna be much use to the public defenders handling the criminal cases or in our investigation of civil rights violations for a lawsuit, if people don't give us your evidence (video, photos, eye-witness statements and contacts, etc). Please do this and encourage others you know have evidence to do the same.
As the days go by, your memory will fade and we will lose valuable information that can help people and hold the city accountable for what occurred. We can't stress this enough. Please do it now. We are continuing to work with the public defenders and to investigate and strategize about civil rights litigation.
We can't do this effectively without your help.
You can download police misconduct forms directly from our website and fax, email or mail to the addresses below.
ON PROVIDING YOUR EVIDENCE TO ANYONE OTHER THAN US:
MAD intends to work through the National Lawyers Guild (which many MAD members are also members of) to put together civil rights litigation to ensure that the police misconduct and bruality that occurred will not go unchallenged. As many of you know, the NLG has been at the forefront of civil rights lawsuits, historically, and more recently, in Seattle, D.C., Philly and elsewhere to make sure that our right to protest is protected and that the government is made to pay for violations of people's rights. We're asking that you provide your evidence to us to help make that happen. Our approach to these types of cases often differs from that of other large national organizations (like the ACLU). We consider ourselves to be a part of the movements that we represent. Unless your evidence comes to us, we won't be able to help you, those arrested and those whose rights were violated. (for more info about the NLG go to (www.nlg.org).
CIVILIAN INVESTIGATIVE PANEL:
A word of advice for those of you being told to file complaints with the Civilian Investigative Panel (aka, police review board) in Miami.
We are checking with movement, experienced police misconduct attorneys about the implications of those complaints on outstanding criminal charges and civil rights litigation. Our basic understanding is that there are issues that can mess things up by filing a complaint, so that is a consideration.
We would advise people to HOLD OFF on filing complaints until we can give you enough information to make a fully informed decision about how filing such a complaint will impact your criminal or civil case.
Check our website in the next few days for more details about this. (www.stopftaa.org/legal)
For more updates and info, check our website regularly at: http://www.stopftaa.org/legal
MAD love,
Andrea Costello on behalf of Miami Activist Defense NLG Mass Defense Committee
SEND EVIDENCE TO:
Miami Activist Defense
c/o Southern Legal Counsel
1229 N.W. 12th Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 271-8347 (fax)
legal@stopftaa.org
(***mark any emails "confidential attorney client
communication" in the subject line)
Andrea Costello
Southern Legal Counsel
1229 N.W. 12th Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
(352) 271-8890
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