The Mass Defense Committee of the New York City NLG Chapter (MDC) provides legal assistance to progressive organizations, secures march and demonstration permits, provides lawyers, legal workers and law students to act as legal observers, and in some cases to act as counsel after arrest.

MDC Chair Bruce Bentley and member Mark Steier.

In 2004, the MDC provided legal support for the protests at the Republican National Convention.

In 2003, the MDC provided assistance to United for Peace and Justice, Coalition for the Homeless, Local 100, Transit Workers Union-AFL-CIO and hundreds of other groups large and small. During the recent anti-war demonstrations, the MDC worked with the People’s Law Collective and the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys to mobilize hundreds of lawyers, legal workers and law students to act as legal observers at dozens of demonstrations, from as few as a dozen demonstrators to as large as ½ million people. The Mass Defense Committee also provided attorneys for arraignment in Criminal Court for over 2,000 people arrested.

The MDC was created in the spring of 1968 in response to Vietnam war protests and arrests at Columbia University.

Mass Defense Committee receives Award of Merit from the New York State Bar Association for their work during the 2003 protests.

For over 35 years the MDC has provided legal observers at hundreds of demonstrations and appeared in court for thousands arrested as they marched and rallied for civil rights and reproductive rights or against police misconduct or the war against Iraq.

Hard at work in the legal office during the Feburary 15, 2003 anti-war protests.

The MDC frequently holds observer training sessions at area law schools. For a schedule of planned training sessions check our calendar. If you wish to volunteer as a legal observer, or can be available to represent arrested protestors, contact nycmassdefense@riseup.net.