‘Know Your Rights’ training @ UDC Law

Register here: http://www.law.udc.edu/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=927424&group=

Preliminary Schedule:

10:00 am: Student Rights: Can teachers tell students not to talk about politics at school? Can schools censor what students write in their school newspapers? What happens if students stage a walk-out or engage in other forms of protest while at school? MaryBeth Tinker will address these questions and more. Now a Board Member of the DC ACLU, MaryBeth was a Supreme Court Plaintiff in the landmark Supreme Court case Tinker vs Des Moines which established that students have the right to free speech in schools. Now a First Amendment activist, MaryBeth helps students across the country learn about their rights and figure out how to use their voices to be effective activists. (https://tinkertourusa.org/about/tinkertour/)

11:00 am: The Legal Risks of Civil Disobedience: The tradition of civil disobedience is a time-honored form of protest. But, what happens when you are arrested? What happens afterwards? Learn your rights and what to expect so that you are able to make an informed decision about whether you are willing to risk arrest or learn about the process so that you can support those who are arrested. Stephanie Joseph, a Public Defender and member of the Board of Directors of the ACLU of Maryland and the DC National Lawyers Guild will discuss arrest and post-arrest procedures.

12:00 Noon: Search & Seizures: When the police stop you, do you have to answer their questions? Can they look in your bag? Enter your home? The 4th Amendment provides protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. Learn about what they are and how you can assert your rights if confronted. A criminal defense attorney will discuss these rights and give suggestions on how to handle police interactions. (https://www.facebook.com/LawOfficeQuentinDriskell/)

1:00 pm: Federal Worker Rights: Federal Workers are facing unpresented attacks and restrictions. Can Feds express political opinions? Attend protests? Raise money? Blow the whistle without getting fired? Attorney Debra D’Agostino co-founder of the Federal Practice Group will discuss the rights Federal Employees have on and off the job. (http://www.fedpractice.com/Meet-Our-Team/D/Debra-DAgostino.aspx)

2:00 pm: Immigration Law: The immigration landscape is rapidly changing. Whether these issues impact you directly or you want to be able to support those in your community, getting up to speed on the new immigration and refugee landscape is essential. Ava Benach, a founding partner of Benach Collopy and a member of the Board of Directors of the Capital Area Immigrant Rights Collation (CAIR) will go over new developments in immigration law and discuss how immigrants can stay safe while protesting. http://www.benachcollopy.com/team/ava-c-benach/

3:00 pm: The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): The Freedom of Information Act can be used as a powerful tool to obtain information from the government. Find out what type of information the government has to disclose and how to file a FOIA request. Attorney Caleb Medearis, co-chair of the NLG Mass Defense Committee will discuss when you might want to file a FOIA request and how to do so.

4:00 pm: Obtaining Permits in DC: When protesting in the District of Columbia you have the option of applying for a permit for the protest or not. Obtaining a permit means that the government of DC is aware of the protest and has granted permission for you to hold the protest. It also means that no other group can hold a protest in the same place at the same time. However, many protests in DC are held without a permit as well. Learn about the process of applying for a permit and the risks of not doing so from attorney Ann Wilcox who is a member of the Board of Directors of the DC NLG.

5:00 pm: Legal Observing: What are your rights when protesting? Learn what to look for to help ensure your right to Free Speech is protected. Attorney Caleb Medearis, co-chair of the DC NLG Mass Defense Committee with go over general rights when protesting and how to spot potential legal issues while on the streets. This skill can help a protect First Amendment rights while protesting and may help provide useful information for any subsequent litigation.