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2020 protests ➔ We Keep Us Safe
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Graphic created for Instagram by the Ohio chapter of the National Lawyers Guild.Text on the graphic reads:
If the police attempt to enter your home, do not consent to a search. Ask to see a warrant and call the NLG.
Even if you do not fear personal consequences police can find a way to use everything you say against somebody else.
Accompanying caption reads:
Dear Movement in Ohio and beyond,
We at the Ohio Chapter of NLG are writing with solidarity and concern. In addition to ongoing police violence against protestors, organizers, and uprisings, we now know that police are turning to increasing harassment and unwarranted surveillance, visitation, and questioning. Police have visited at least a dozen people statewide in pursuit of photos, videos, and personal testimony. We have also received reports of police surveillance and trash seizure at homes at all hours of night and day, while driving, and elsewhere. Police have offered false explanations for their visits, claiming 911 calls were made from the homes. Police have targeted experienced organizers and newer activists, protesters, medics, bail fund members, and others.
We are writing because we know from history that these are intimidation and repression tactics that are unhealthy for democracy, and we want our movements to be aware and prepared.
We urge you all not to talk to the police, prosecutors, or other law enforcement agents without a lawyer present. Repeating “I will not talk to you without a lawyer,” may seem awkward, but it's what we must do to keep ourselves, our families, and our movements safe from unjustified and unlawful police intimidation and repression tactics.
Additionally, if the police attempt to enter your home, do not consent to a search. Ask to see the warrant—and call the NLG. For more resources, check out the CCR “If An Agent Knocks” guide, and the M4BL/CUNY CLEAR tip sheets.
If you are visited or harassed by police, please tell your network and notify the NLG. Not in part of a group? Join one and stay connected. We believe that these visits seek to intimidate, surveil, and isolate people while gathering information with the goal of disempowering the Movement.
Remember, we keep us safe. Even if you do not fear personal consequences for anything you share with police or other agents, police can and often will find a way to use everything said—whether indicative of a crime or not—against somebody. [continued in comments] #WeKeepUsSafe #KnowYourRights #Solidarity
Similar to continuing to wear masks to protect others from potential spread of COVID-19, we encourage folks in the Movement to not talk to police or agents in order to protect not only themselves but the broader Movement and other people in it.
NO to police violence and the prison industrial complex.
xoxo
Ohio NLG