The East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC) celebrates today’s inauguration, and perhaps more importantly the end of the previous administration. We must also acknowledge that calls for unity and healing are both superficial and deadly for our communities and the clients we represent. In the wake of the violent, attempted coup at the Capitol, and in the wreckage of all we have endured and lost during the last four years, we must all center anti-racism in our practice. We must hold each other accountable and recognize that whitelash is deeply entrenched in our country’s history. Our commitment to a world in which race does not matter requires daily work.

1,315 people who had their belongings taken by Caltrans in encampment sweeps have submitted 1,529 claims for compensation in a class action lawsuit.

EBCLC, led by Clean Slate Supervising Attorney Osha Neumann, Staff Attorney Candy Smallwood, and partners at Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights of San Francisco (LCCR), Homeless Action Center, and over 200 volunteers, worked tirelessly to submit 1,529 claims for 1,315  claimants in the large class action before the December 14 filing deadline. 

East Bay Community Law Center is overjoyed to announce that after twenty years of service advocating for low-income renters and then founding, directing, and expanding our Consumer Justice Clinic, Sharon Djemal has accepted Governor Gavin Newsom’s Alameda County Superior Court judge appointment

In September, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1869, which repeals 23 criminal fees and eliminates all outstanding debt related to those fees. The law goes into effect July 1, 2021, but actions can be taken immediately to help people who have been charged these fees.

This free MCLE training will give an overview of the relief provided under this new law, and include presentations from a public defender about how to navigate new and existing fees ordered by the court and a legal service provider about what to do about outstanding fees between now and July 1, 2021.

From Board members who bring extensive lived and professional expertise to support staff who are helping us all stay connected during our switch to remote services, these new additions to our team will play a key role in our community’s recovery. I hope you will join me in welcoming these new justice champions. Each one of them helps us meet this critical moment.

In reflecting on Fannie Lou Hamer’s vision to liberate us all at the ballot box and beyond, EBCLC would like to express gratitude to all people who power our country while remaining disenfranchised from voting.

Our Immigration advocates Theo Cuison and Rebecca Romero, participated in a critical and insightful panel discussion with the Center for Race and Gender, “Undocumented Students And Campus Climate At UC Berkeley”. 

AB 1869 eliminates 23 adult criminal fees, cancels $16 billion in existing debt, and divests our state’s precious resources from an inherently violent criminal legal system.

Breonna Taylor lived as a beloved family member, an essential healthcare worker, and a community builder. Photos of her reveal how much she had to offer the world. The mural tributes of her in downtown Oakland and across the country evince that she has changed it.