Protests

Chicago Braces for Heightened DNC Protests Amid Test of New Bail Reform Law

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Chicago, IL — As the Democratic National Convention gears up in Chicago, the city braces for a series of protests that are expected to test Illinois’ recently implemented no-cash-bail law. Anti-Israel demonstrators are projected to significantly mark their presence, raising concerns about potential mass arrests at a time when the Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA) has restructured the state’s bail system. Enacted last year, the PFA abolished cash bail, a reform hailed by advocates as a crucial step towards addressing income-based disparities in the judicial system. Critics argue that poorer defendants historically struggled more than their … Read more

Akron Agrees to Settlement Over Police Conduct During Protests

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Akron, Ohio – The city of Akron has reached a settlement with protesters who filed a lawsuit alleging that police used excessive force during the 2020 protests following the death of George Floyd. The legal action highlighted a broader conversation around law enforcement tactics during demonstrations advocating for racial justice and police reforms. The settlement includes a monetary compensation of $100,000 to be divided among 12 plaintiffs. These individuals claimed they were subjected to inappropriate use of force, such as tear gas, pepper spray, and other non-lethal methods meant to disperse the crowds gathered to … Read more

Controversy Swirls as India Implements New Criminal Laws Amidst Widespread Criticism and Protests

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New Delhi, India — A suite of three controversial criminal laws introduced in 2023 by the Indian Parliament has sparked widespread criticism from various sectors of society, including legal experts and opposition political parties. These new statutes, which went into effect on July 1, include the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), replacing the Indian Penal Code of 1860; the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, replacing the Indian Evidence Act of 1872; and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which supersedes the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1973. These legislations, signed into law by President Droupadi Murmu on December … Read more

Iranian Lawyer Detained After Challenging Government’s Response to Protests Sparked by Mahsa Amini’s Death

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Tehran, Iran — Mohsen Borhani, a well-known Iranian lawyer and academic, has been arrested following his public critique of the government’s handling of widespread protests in 2022, sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Amini died in police custody after being detained for purportedly not adhering to the country’s strict hijab regulations, igniting calls for reform against Iran’s longstanding clerical regime. These events led to a global outcry, with a United Nations fact-finding mission determining Amini’s death to be unwarranted and violent, further noting her passing led to significant human rights abuses during the … Read more