Category: In the News

Thunder Wire: NBA Players union issues statement vowing to support social justice

“We have always supported civil rights organizations like the Legal Defense Fund, Chicago Votes, Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defenders, National Museum of African American History and Culture and more. The NBPA will deepen its commitment to social justice by increasing our support for similar organizations that are focused on ending police brutality, addressing voter suppression and […]

The Marshall Project: Is Child Abuse Really Rising During The Pandemic?

“We have a child welfare system that is particularly, extremely sensitive to the media, so we should be very sure of narratives before we put them out there,” said Emma Ketteringham, managing director of the family defense practice at the Bronx Defenders in New York City, an organization that provides free legal services for low-income […]

Warwick Valley Dispatch: Comm. Members Discuss Anti-Racism Focus In Warwick Schools

“A virtual “town hall” meeting for Warwick parents and educators took place on Sun., June 7, via zoom conference, with over 30 attendees. Its purpose was to come together as an educational community to discuss implementing a culturally responsible and actively anti-racist culture in Warwick schools. Meant as a gateway to greater community engagement, the […]

Law360: Virus Concerns Loom Over Handling Of Mass Arrests

“Police should not be arresting individuals who are peacefully exercising their First Amendment right to protest, said Ann Mathews, managing director of the criminal defense practice at Bronx Defenders. And if cops do cuff peaceful protesters, district attorneys should decline to prosecute them, Mathews said.” Read the full article here

The Appeal: The NYPD ‘Cancelled’ Police Court Appearances, Leaving People To Sit In Jail

“Over the next four weeks, the city’s criminal courts began addressing the backlog. But then the NYPD issued its directives canceling court appearances. “You have individuals who have been in a kind of indefinite pre-inquiry-of-any-kind detention” because of the COVID-19 court shutdowns, said Ann Mathews, managing director of the criminal defense practice at the Bronx […]

News12 Brooklyn: Unrest in America: A News 12 Special Report

Lenora Easter, BxD’s Early Defense Team Leader, spoke with News12 Brooklyn about Bronx Defenders’ legal emergency hotline and everything that public defenders have been dealing with midst the George Floyd protests. Watch starting at 5:44 here

Courthouse News: New York City Reaches Virus Milestone With Infections Down to 1%

“During the public testimony portion of the City Council hearing, New Yorkers expressed outrage over the behavior of the NYPD during citywide protests. “As public defenders in the South Bronx, none of this has come as a surprise. It’s the treatment we regularly see our clients, overwhelmingly black and brown people, subjected to,” said Zami […]

News12: Public defenders across the city stand in solidarity with the black community

“Public defenders from across the city stood in solidarity with the black community and the Black Lives Matter movement on Monday. Protesters walked from the Bronx Supreme Court and made their way to Foley Square to meet up with other protesters Many of them say that they became defense attorneys because of their own negative experiences with […]