EBCLC’s Statement In Support of Berkeley’s 8.27.17 Anti-Fascist Counter-Protests

The East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC) advances justice through legal education and advocacy.  EBCLC provides legal services to clients, communities and causes that are marginalized and disadvantaged by historic and current discrimination.  EBCLC confronts racism, bigotry, bias, ableism, classism, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and white supremacy in our legal institutions, communities, organizations and ourselves.  Freedom of speech is paramount to EBCLC, including the freedom of others to speak in favor of values that we detest and oppose.  However, hate speech causes harm that cannot be ameliorated merely by more speech.  And we at EBCLC use our collective voice and daily work to stand up for our core values of equity, fairness, inclusion and justice.  As our shared values come under greater attack – emboldened by the current federal administration – EBCLC stands in solidarity with those who oppose fascism, neo-Nazism, racism and white supremacy.  We recognize that this opposition takes many forms. As an organization, EBCLC chooses to use non-violent demonstration and legal advocacy to advance justice and create a community that is more healthy, productive, secure and hopeful for all.