Out in Law (OIL), Asia Law Society (ALS), Black Law Students’ Association (BLSA), Indigenous Law Students’ Association (ILSA) and South Asian Law Students’ Association (SALSA) are proud to host the Movement Defence Committee (MDC) to provide virtual legal observer training on Thursday, October 8th from 5:30-7:30pm.
Register for the legal observer training by 11:59 pm on Monday, October 5 at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScGxSpkhl9gGZc92zcgL4gThMstvda2mjkKPzFLUjzFQjd_PA/viewform. Zoom details will be provided to registrants prior to the event.
What is the Movement Defence Committee?
The Movement Defence Committee provides legal support to groups and communities organizing against oppression and for more just futures.
Just this year, the MDC has provided legal support at 50+ protests and direct actions including those calling for defunding the police, safe and affordable shelter for all, and Wet’suwet’en solidarity actions.
What are Legal Observers?
Legal Observers act as the eyes and ears of the legal team at protests: They record and preserve evidence (e.g. of police misconduct) that could be used to support protesters. You can usually recognize the MDC at protests as the people in orange hats or armbands.
At this training, you will learn how to provide legal support at protests and other direct actions as a legal observer.
Please note that the MDC prioritizes legal support to those most at risk of police or state violence. The MDC recognizes that this is a state built on oppression, the theft of Indigenous land, racism/colonialism against BIPOC people, misogyny, homo/trans/lesbo phobia, ableism and capitalism and that policing reflects this.
The MDC does not take evidence that could criminalize someone.
Contact Information
If you have any questions about the Legal Observer Training, please feel free to reach out to Out in Law at outinlaw.uoft@gmail.com or the Movement Defence Committee at movementdefence@protonmail.com."
