Statement on Bail Assistance →

Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) unequivocally condemns all forms of violence in the strongest terms. We are committed to seeking justice and healing for victims and survivors of crimes.  LCR continues to call for reforms to our bail and criminal system that ensure equal justice for all, not just those who...

Needham Police Accused of Illegally Handcuffing and Profiling Black Father →

Needham Police Department Accused of Illegally Handcuffing and Profiling Black Father  A can of tea and some cough drops. That’s all Marvin Henry was buying when he was—wrongfully—suspected of shoplifting from CVS when he was stopped by multiple Needham police officers, including the Chief of Police, in January 2020 as...

Worcester Police Fail to Protect Black Mother and Her Kids →

"Black cunts!" That's what Ms. Lewis and her 13 year-old daughter were called along with other horrifying expletives. That's what the white gas attendant at Pat's Towing in Worcester yelled as he violently attacked Ms. Lewis' car terrifying Ms. Lewis and her three kids trapped inside. The white gas attendant violently approached Ms. Lewis'...

City Must Act Swiftly to Remedy Injustice to Boston’s George Floyd →

Civil Rights Attorneys Representing Mother Of Terrence Coleman Call On City Leaders To Act Swiftly To Remedy Injustice To “Boston’s George Floyd” In the wake of the George Floyd murder, cities across the country are re-examining their own police killings of Black men and women. Here in Boston, Terrence Coleman, a...

Responding to the Policing Crisis →

Lawyers for Civil Rights has been actively responding to the racial justice and policing crisis pre-COVID and mid-COVID. Here's a snapshot of our life-changing work: We currently represent Hope Coleman, the mother of Terrence Coleman, a young Black man with mental health issues who was killed by Boston police. Hope...

Response to Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association →

Response to Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association’s Letter to Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins We, the undersigned, condemn in the strongest possible terms the letter sent by the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association (BPPA) to Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins on June 2, 2020. For the BPPA to attack the powerful statements...

We are all Minneapolis →

Scenes reminiscent of the civil rights era are unfolding across the country. Black lives are at stake. Peaceful protesters, bystanders, and reporters have been injured and arrested.  Cities are on fire. Lawyers for Civil Rights was founded at the height of the civil rights movement to move racial justice struggles...

Coronavirus Pandemic Response →

Intake The demand for our free legal services has increased exponentially since the start of the public health and economic crisis.  Since March, we have received over 350 requests for legal assistance (intakes). The estimated demographic breakdown is as follows: 55% Black; 25% Latinx; 10% Asian American; and 10% other....

Coronavirus Legal Warriors →

As legal first responders, at a time when many doors are closing, we are opening ours wider. In response to an unprecedented need, we're adding a new coronavirus legal warrior to our team. This expansion is critical to deepening and expanding free support for affected families, including help with unemployment...

Legal Responses to COVID-19 →

Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) is launching a comprehensive legal and policy initiative across immigration, education, housing and the census to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on our most vulnerable communities. Specifically, we are advocating to: Secure demographic and racial data on coronavirus infections and death. Stop immigration raids,...

Boston Police Must Comply With Public Records Law, Judge Rules →

In a case of first impression, a Suffolk Superior Court judge has ruled that a lawsuit challenging the Boston Police Department’s (BPD) pattern and practice of violating the Massachusetts Public Records Law may proceed. The lawsuit, brought by Lawyers for Civil Rights (“LCR”) and David Godkin, from Birnbaum & Godkin...

Statement on Hate Crimes Charges in Boston →

On behalf of the Vasquez family, victims of a hate crime in East Boston, Lawyers for Civil Rights applauds the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office for bringing felony hate crime charges against Jenny Ennamorati and Stephanie Armstrong. This is an important step toward holding Ennamorati and Armstrong accountable for the vile and violent...

Support for Black Lives Matter at School Week →

Earlier this week, Michael Leary, President of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association (BPPA), opposed the Boston Teachers Union’s (BTU) support of Black Lives Matter At School Week—an annual week of action organized by a national coalition working for racial justice in education. Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) condemns the BPPA’s...

2019 Annual Report →

Check out our latest work. Our 2019 year-in-review is available here: [pdf-embedder url="http://lawyersforcivilrights.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/2019-Annual-Report-DIGITAL.pdf" title="2019 Annual Report DIGITAL"]

Boston Police Must Discontinue Hair Drug Test →

Statement of Community Organizations Urging Boston Police to Discontinue Hair Drug Test It’s time for the City of Boston to take a stand against Psychemedics’ hair drug test. The under-signed organizations have long been extremely concerned about the critical lack of racial diversity in the Boston Police Department (BPD) and...

Court Rules Against Boston Police In Hair Drug Test Case →

Court Rules Against Boston Police In Challenge To Hair Drug Test And Civil Rights Groups Call For City To Immediately Halt All Use Of Test   Massachusetts's highest court has made clear once again that the controversial "Hair Test" used by the Boston Police Department (BPD) to test for employee drug...

Civil Rights Groups Assert Black & Latinx Lives Matter →

In First Circuit, Civil Rights Groups File Brief Asserting That Black and Latinx Lives Matter Brief Highlights The Practical and Legal Challenges That People of Color Face in Police Interactions Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) filed an amicus brief on behalf of the Center for Constitutional Rights and LatinoJustice PRLDEF in the U.S. Court...

Ropes & Gray Justice Fellowship →

Ropes & Gray Launches Justice Fellowship at Lawyers for Civil Rights Legal Fellowship Builds On Successful Pro Bono Partnership in Landmark Voting Rights Case Global law firm Ropes & Gray today announced the creation of the Ropes & Gray Justice Fellowship at Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR), a Boston-based legal...