protesters' lawyer arrested when she tries to explain the law

What are the most common protest-related criminal charges?

Sep 07, 2019 · An attorney was held in contempt and held in the courthouse cells for trying to explain to a judge why the prosecutor has a right to null charges brought aga...

Who are the lawyers charged in the Molotov cocktail attack?

Jun 09, 2020 · Credit: TMJ4 News. A Wisconsin lawyer was arrested twice in a span of 24 hours after allegedly spitting in the face of a young protester at a …

Why do prosecutors sometimes decline to pursue cases against protesters?

Jun 01, 2020 · The two lawyers involved in the attack were identified by federal authorities as Urooj Rahman, 31, the human rights lawyer, and Colinford King Mattis, 32, an associate at the midsize law firm of ...

Are all Los Angeles County protest cases being dismissed?

Sep 01, 2020 · A dispute between Black Lives Matter and pro-police protesters leads to criminal charges. But one of the women arrested and her lawyer say the arrest could have been handled far more peacefully.

What happened to Mattis and Rahman?

Mr. Mattis and Ms. Rahman were charged with causing damage to a police vehicle by fire and explosives, according to a criminal complaint filed by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn.

How old was the woman charged in the Molotov attack?

The Brooklyn prosecutors on Saturday also charged a 27-year-old woman from Catskill, N.Y., in a separate Molotov cocktail attack against another police vehicle, about 10 minutes later and a mile and a half away.

Where did Samantha Shader throw a molotov cocktail?

In the second attack, in Crown Heights , Samantha Shader threw a Molotov cocktail at a marked police van near Eastern Parkway and Washington Avenue, federal authorities charged. Four officers were sitting inside but managed to scramble out, according to the criminal complaint in that case, and were not injured.

What happened to Darian Shader?

Ms. Shader, like the two lawyers, was charged with causing damage to a police vehicle by fire and explosives, according to the criminal complaint in her case. She was arrested shortly after the attack, the complaint said. Her sister, Darian Shader, 21, was also taken into custody after attempting to interfere with her arrest, the police said.

Where is Mattis working?

Mr. Mattis began working in July 2018 as an associate in the corporate group at Pryor Cashman, where, according to his profile on the firm’s website, he advises public and private companies, their executives and boards on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, financing and corporate governance, among other matters.

Who were the two lawyers involved in the Molotov attack?

The two lawyers involved in the attack were identified by federal authorities as Urooj Rahman, 31, the human rights lawyer, and Colinford King Mattis, 32, an associate at the midsize law firm of Pryor Cashman LLP, who graduated from Princeton.

Is Mattis a bad person?

A relative of Mr. Mattis who declined to be identified said, “He’s not a bad person and his family supports him.”. Police video surveillance near the 88th Precinct station house in the Fort Greene neighborhood captured the attack in which they are charged, according to the criminal complaint filed in their case.

Who was the teacher who was swept up by the police in Louisville?

An English teacher at Marion C. Moore School at that time, Mr. Kaufmann was among more than 800 people swept up by the police in Louisville during the many months of demonstrations prompted by the police killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylor in Louisville. Mr. Kaufmann and his fiancée, protest novices, ...

When was Matt Kaufmann arrested?

The headlines, however, made it hard to avoid: “Kentucky High School Teacher of the Year Arrested,” blared the local news after he was detained on May 31.

Why did the Prosecutors decline to pursue many of the cases?

Prosecutors declined to pursue many of the cases because they concluded the protesters were exercising their basic civil rights. Kentucky state troopers dressed in riot gear took protesters who were violating curfew in Louisville, Ky., into custody in June. Credit... Luke Sharrett for The New York Times. By Neil MacFarquhar.

Who is Matt Kaufmann?

Image. Matt Kaufmann, an English teacher in Louisville, Ky. , with two of his students, Kaelyn Goatley, left, and Onastajia Meiman. He was arrested while at a social justice protest. Credit... Xavier Burrell for The New York Times.

Who is the Jefferson County attorney?

The Jefferson County attorney, Mike O’Connell, appeared in court himself to ask that the felony charges be dropped after reviewing the evidence, including a live Instagram broadcast by Ms. Scott with a time stamp showing that the arrests came before curfew. Image.

Is Beverly Hills pursuing misdemeanor charges?

Beverly Hills is pursuing misdemeanor charges against a group of 25 people stemming from one protest in June and plans to pursue others from another protest in July, said Rachel Steinback, the coordinator for the National Lawyers Guild of Los Angeles’ s Mass Defense Committee.

Pre-protest damage control

There are tactics that you can take to minimize the likelihood of you being arrested, and to protect yourself if your plan fails. That means take pictures or better yet, video, to use as evidence when possible. It can help show anything from your location to who you were with.

About the Author: Drew Cochran

Drew Cochran has practiced criminal defense law in Annapolis for more than 20 years. He is a member of the Maryland State Bar, Anne Arundel County Bar, and the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys’ Association.

Why Do Protest Arrests Happen?

Before we talk about what to do if you are arrested at a demonstration, let’s look at some of the limitations placed on protests and how defying those limitations can result in your need for bail bond services or a qualified attorney.

How to Avoid Being Arrested at a Protest

Now that you know how many protest arrests occur, here are a few ways you can at least decrease your risk of being detained at a demonstration.

What To Do If You Are Arrested

You may have tried your hardest to avoid arrest, but that doesn’t always mean law enforcement won’t seize the opportunity to take protesters into custody. Whether your arrest was lawful or illegal, you’ll want to follow some basic guidelines if you’re detained.