Pocket-sized legal advice
Activists Rights Handbook
By the Activist's Defence Network
Reviewed by Karen Fredericks
Most of the time a political action committee needs a lawyer like Madonna needs more publicity. The presence of a high-handed, solemn- voiced professional whose favourite line is "You can't do that, it's illegal" can be a real downer for a group of activists gearing up to challenge the authority of the state.
Sometimes people choose to break the law, a fact most lawyers only understand in the context of corporate tax avoidance. It is rare to find a lawyer who agrees that when injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.
The Activists Rights Handbook, published by CEFTAA (Campaign Exposing Frame Ups and Targeting Abuses of Authority), is the perfect solution for the modern radical — legal advice and information without the moralising. Unlike the lawyer it will not take over your meeting and it recognises that the black letter of"the law" is often somewhat different to the real world of police and magistrates.
The approach of this handy-sized book is both practical and political. It recommends, for example, that when planning a political action a group should make itself aware of all the legal risks and then collectively decide upon the risks the individuals involved are willing to take. Unlike the average arrogant lawyer it doesn't presume to say, "you can't do that". The approach is always "if you do that you should be aware that it could have this result".
The handbook has seven chapters. The first covers the common charges which may be made against demonstrators and griffiti artists, with special sections on students and trade unionists. Subsequent chapters focus on particular arms of the legal system — police, watchouses, lawyers and courts — and outlines their powers, duties and real world modus operandi. The final chapter offers information and advice on dealing with the media.
The handbook is of most use to activists in NSW, since apart from its coverage of federal law it is primarily concerned with NSW legislation and law enforcement agencies. There are plans to produce editions of the book for other states, for example the Fitzroy Legal Service's planned Victorian edition.
Orders for the book may be placed with CEFTAA, PO Box K365 Haymarket NSW 2000. First edition stocks have run out but a second edition is now in production.