Credit: NLG
Last week, city officials announced that trained peacekeeping leaders will be on the streets whenever the Brelo verdict or the results of the Tamir Rice investigation hit streets (i.e. when the likelihood of civil unrest spikes). Those pacifying forces will be signified by lime-green lanyards. 

The Ohio chapter of the National Lawyer Guild is concerned, though, because their own legal observers will be out among the inevitable protests and clad in lime-green gear, as well. The NLG’s Legal Observer program is part of a legal support system aimed at protecting individuals’ rights to political expression. 

“The NLG reiterates that its role is entirely distinct from that of the City’s volunteers and Marshals and is in no way connected to the City’s rapid response strategy,” the organization writes. Furthermore, the NLG warns that peacekeeping volunteers are “potentially agents of the [Cleveland Police Department] and the City of Cleveland.” 

This article appears in May 13-19, 2015.

Eric Sandy is an award-winning Cleveland-based journalist. For a while, he was the managing editor of Scene. He now contributes jam band features every now and then.

2 replies on “National Lawyer Guild Frustrated By City’s ‘Peacekeeper’ Regalia”

  2. Very smart. Warn the community that people wearing the exact same color you’re wearing are really spies that are out to get everyone else.

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