Cascadia Legal Observers

The Cascadia Legal Observers are out in the streets during Eugene & Springfield protests. With all of the chemical agents being used against protestors (and therefore, LOs), we need to purchase protective equipment to ensure LOs can keep doing their job. We need your support with purchasing PPE! Support the movement by sponsoring an LO >> help us provide our chapter with PPE today!

WHAT IS A LEGAL OBSERVER?
Legal Observing is an exciting way to play an important role in any demonstration or protest. However, this task also carries with it a great amount of responsibility. Legal Observers are most often law students, lawyers, or other members of the legal community because these individuals are usually familiar with the laws and can note any violations in legal terms. However, anyone can be an effective legal observer with proper training. If you’re interested in legal observing you must first attend a legal observer training.

Legal Observers are individuals who purposely position themselves close enough to demonstrations to be able to accurately watch and report the activities of participants and the law enforcement who interact with them. Just the presence of an explicitly identified Legal Observer can deter police from violating the rights of protesters. Legal Observers should not act as part of the demonstration, but should carefully record the actions of the police with the goal of later using that information as an objective account of the events. A Legal Observer will essentially be the official eyes and ears of protesters, documenting every detail in a thorough and professional manner. Typically, they fill out this official form (LO summary) for any incident so that all the information is uniform and organized. The National Lawyers Guild is the leading resource for preparing legal observers. The NLG website has a wealth of information on the topic as well as a comprehensive legal observer training manual which explains the roles and responsibilities of Legal Observers as well as recommendations for how to establish a Legal Observer team for your upcoming event.

CLDC also provides resources for potential Legal Observers. We have organized Legal Observers for many demonstrations in the past. If you are interested in attending our next Legal Observer training or would like to schedule a Legal Observer training for your community, please contact us. In addition, if you need help recruiting Legal Observers for an upcoming event or have any other questions, you can call or email the CLDC. If you are working as a Legal Observer with groups such as the NLG or CLDC in anticipation of litigation, you may be exposed to confidential and sensitive information. In such situations, you may be asked to sign a LO Confidentiality Agreement.

Our Approach

CLDC defends front line activists, pursues civil rights litigation, and educates people about their rights and how to use them in order to expose and confront the persistent erosion of our civil liberties and the Bill of Rights. We believe knowledge is power, and that when people have the tools and understanding to take action and demand that the government honor all their rights, grassroots activism has a stronger chance of exacting the change necessary for building a more sustainable and just world.

CLDC’s Justice in Action and Dissent & Democracy programs bring a multi-pronged approach to achieving the goals set forth by our mission. By utilizing education, and when necessary, the courts, the Civil Liberties Defense Center both proactively and reactively challenges governmental attacks on our liberties and rights.

Sponsor a Cascadia Legal Observer!

The Cascadia Legal Observers need your support with purchasing PPE, so they stay safe at protests.