Many people are asking what can be done about police violence, false arrests and other police misconduct at the demonstrations. The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) is collecting information about the misconduct by the various police agencies, and considering what legal and/or political action might be effective and feasible regarding civil rights violations.
If you have been subject to or witnessed police misconduct, please fill out an NLG police misconduct report (PDF | DOC), or simply send the NLG your contact information (see below.) Please do not send videos or photos, but if you have video or photo evidence of police misconduct let us know and give us your contact info. You can send us forms or your contact info by emailing them to demonstrations@nlgsf.org , mailing them to the NLG Demo Committee at 558 Capp Street, San Francisco, CA 94110, or dropping them off in a sealed envelope addressed to NLG Demo Committee, in the outside mailbox at 558 Capp St (between 20th and 21st) in SF.
Please note that beginning a civil investigation (either through a lawsuit or through filing an official complaint with the Police Department or the Civilian Complaint Review Board) while people have open criminal cases can be a bad idea. However, it is very important to act quickly to preserve evidence that might be needed in a potential civil lawsuit, and there are strict deadlines for filing civil claims. It is best to discuss the timing, risks and benefits of initiating a civil action, and how to best preserve evidence, with an NLG or other lawyer who specializes in police misconduct and political cases, as soon as possible after the incident. This guide explains how to document your injuries, but is not a substitute for speaking with a lawyer.
Sharing Stories and Video
We encourage people to let the world know about police violence. However, it is important to review any information that is made public to ensure it does not contain details that could be used against people in their criminal cases. Feel free to post any footage or stories of what the police did, but please consider removing any details showing or describing your or others’ actions. The police monitor livestreams, YouTube, social media and political blogs and websites for intelligence that could help them prosecute activists. Even if it doesn’t seem important, careless material you post could get you or other people in trouble.