Monday, June 8, 2009

Amazing Experience

This IADL, as with the previous Congress we attended in Paris in 2000, has been an extremely heady experience. As much as it strengthens and informs our work as Guild lawyer and legal worker to gather with others doing the same or similar work around the country, multiply that 1,000 fold to meet and discuss stratgy with lawyers doing similar work around the worldespecially in these times when the crushing boot heel of repression of dissent remains astride the Constitution.

I've had the privilege of being able to compare notes with lawyers doing mass defense work almost identical to mine in Britain, Turkey, Belgium, etc. It is immensely powerful to know how many of us engaged in similar struglles and building common ground around the world.

There's common work for Guild Lawyers doing everything from employment to fighting anti-terrorism laws, to feminist lawe, anti-globalization, you name it.

I participated in the track devoted to anti-terrorism laws. Many great presenters attacked the substance and theory of that legislation. In addition we discussed building a strategy to get those laws scrapped, and strategies for winning freedom for the Cuban Five.

Meanwhile, Filipino people's lawyers get to talk with those in Indonesia, Belguim, Columbia. the Western Sahara,a nd yes, even the US.

WHere else would you hear a Cuban attorney followed by an Iraqi human rights lawe discussing what to do about US imperials. You're certainly not going to hear that conversation in the States.

Larry Hildes

No comments:

Post a Comment