At The Legal Aid Society our Civil, Criminal Defense, Juvenile Rights, and Pro Bono practices work tirelessly in and out of the courtroom to defend our clients and dismantle the hidden, systemic barriers that can prevent them from thriving in New York City. We seek to be a beacon of hope for those who feel neglected —regardless of who they are, where they come from, or how they identify. Our experienced teams provide comprehensive services, support, and advocacy that protect rights, keep families and communities together, and in many cases, saves lives. We have an intrinsic connection to the daily lives of New Yorkers. Here are a few of the places we made a difference, provided context or added valuable perspective this week:

LAS pushes for full repeal of police secrecy law 50-a 

NYDN: Cuomo backs repeal of state law withholding police disciplinary records
NYLJ: Cuomo Backs Reform of NY’s Police Secrecy Law Amid Protests Over George Floyd’s Death
SI Advance: Gov. Cuomo calls for independent review of police actions during Brooklyn protests
Politico: Legislators Likely To Act On Police Disciplinary Measure Next Week
El Diario: Organizaciones civiles exigen apurar reformas policiales para bajar presión de protestas
Times Union: Legislature to convene next week to dismantle law shielding police files
THE APPEAL: New York Protest Could Finally Push Through Increased Police Transparency
NYT: Police Misconduct Records Are Secret. Protests May Finally Change That.

LAS offers resources to New Yorkers protesting NYPD brutality 

The City: How to Report Police Misconduct — and What to Expect If You Do
Time Out: Five things to know if you’re going out to protest in New York City
Huffington Post: What To Do If You Witness Police Brutality
6SQFT: 10 organizations supporting the Black Lives Matter movement in NYC
THE INTERCEPT: New York Police Are Attacking Protesters
Gothamist: What New Yorkers Need To Know About The City’s Historic Curfew

LAS fights to maintain due process for New Yorkers arrested during protests 

NYDN: Legal Aid sues NYPD, saying 108 people are locked up after protests without seeing a judge
Law360: Virus, Volume Slow Release For Arrested Protesters In NYC
Pix 11: Nearly 400 people are being illegally detained by NYPD amid protests: lawsuit
BK Reader: Emergency Lawsuit Filed To Free 108 New Yorkers Illegally Detained By NYPD
Gothamist: Hundreds Of Arrested George Floyd Protesters Are Being Held Longer Than 24 Hours
Time: Hundreds of Protesters Being Held Illegally in New York City Jails, Lawsuit Alleges
BKLYNER: Scores Arrested Amid Floyd Protests Locked Up for More Than 24 Hours in NYC: Lawsuit
CBS: Arrested Protesters Say They’re Being Kept In Overcrowded Pens
Law360: Legal Aid Sues NYPD, Says Protesters Held In Jail As Payback
Chronicle of Social Change: Youth Drive New York City’s George Floyd Protests Into Day 10
NewNowNext: Hundreds Gather at Stonewall Inn to Protest Police Brutality
Marshall Project: We Were Gassed, Arrested, and Maybe Exposed to COVID-19
Univision: Interponen demanda contra el NYPD por el tiempo de las detenciones
Patch: Arrested Protesters Say They’re Being Kept In Overcrowded Pens, Fear Coronavirus Spread
NY Daily Mail: Arrested New York protesters are ‘being held in overcrowded pens’
NYT: Despite Virus, Hundreds Arrested in Unrest Are Held in Cramped Jails
NY Magazine: Protests Might Spread the Coronavirus. Curfews and Crackdowns Definitely Will.
Politco: Police Arrest Tactics Add To Virus Risks
NYDN: Manhattan judge denies Legal Aid request to free hundreds of George Floyd protesters
NYLJ: Manhattan Judge Rules Some Delay From Arrest to Arraignment Is Reasonable
NY Post: Judge denies release of NYC protesters whose arraignments are overdue
Law360: NYPD Defeats Bid To Free 300 Jailed Amid Protests

LAS decries imposing bail on New Yorkers arrested during protests 

City Limits: How NYC’s Prosecutors are Handling Protest and Looting Cases
Politico: Cuomo tells DAs to impose bail on looters
Patch: NY DA Wants To Hold NYC Looting Suspects Without Bail: Report
NYLJ: NY Gov. Cuomo Calls for Bail to Be Set for Accused Looters

More LAS in the news

Law360: NYC Judge Cites ‘Drafting Issue’ In Eviction Guidance
Gothamist: NYPD Recommends Charges Against Officer Who Beat Bystander
Law 360: Pandemic Hinders Bar Exam Retakers Who Aid The Indigent
BROOKLYN PAPER: New Video Emerges of Violent COIVD-Related Arrest in East New York 
AMNY: New video emerges of violent COVID-related arrest in Brooklyn
Bloomberg: New York Bar Group to Study Police Brutality, New President Says
American Independent: Lawyers fight for release of trans inmates
The Guardian: New York police take seconds to restore reputation for brutality
Courthouse News Service: Protests Further Tarnish Police Trust in Virus-Hit New York
Newsday: De Blasio said he is considering instituting a city curfew to curb violence
Newsday: Cuomo, De Blasio announce city curfew to curb violence
Crain’s New York: De Blasio Extends Curfew To Tuesday Night After More Looting
The City: Use of Force Against Inmates at NYC Jails Hit ‘All-Time High’ Last Year
El Diario: El uso de la fuerza contra los prisioneros alcanzó “máximo histórico”
NYDN: NYC Mayor de Blasio claims ignorance of NYPD use of batons on peaceful protesters
AMNY: De Blasio under fire from all sides after NYPD handling of George Floyd protests
QNS: De Blasio under fire from all sides after NYPD handling of George Floyd protests
NYDN: Cuomo stands by cops despite aggression against protesters
NYDN: NYPD cops accused by advocacy groups of covering shield numbers