LAWYERING FOR LIBERATION | A Busboys and Poets Books Presentation
Join visionary Black lawyers in reimagining “what legal work in service of liberation actually looks like”
"This is not just a manual for resistance—though it is that. It's a call to reimagine what legal work in service of liberation actually looks like. In a moment when authoritarianism is consolidating and traditional legal strategies are failing, that reimagining couldn’t be more urgent." —The Anti-Authoritarian Playbook
This fiery manifesto provides a concrete action plan for legal professionals and activists advancing Black liberation and transformative social change.
Revolutions happen in the streets, not in courtrooms. But in the struggle against systems increasingly designed to perpetuate inequality and benefit those in power, lawyers must do their part. As leaders from the acclaimed movement lawyering and advocacy organization Law for Black Lives, editors Marbré Stahly-Butts and Ameca Reali have spent years on the front lines of transformative social change. With Lawyering for Liberation, they offer concrete tools for fellow legal workers and lawyers working to achieve a just future.
Grounded in the politics of abolition, Black queer feminism, and anticapitalism, this approachable how-to guide distills key concepts of movement lawyering and assembles advice from dozens of lawyers, legal workers, and organizers in areas like jail and bail support, stop-and-frisk litigation, protester defense, reparations, family law, housing, and more. The result is not just a manual for resistance but an urgent call to join the movement.
Co-editor of Lawyering for Liberation and former Executive Director of Law for Black Lives Marbré Stahly-Butts is joining us on the Busboys stage alongside visionary civil rights leader and movement lawyer Judith Browne Dianis and Iman Freeman, co-founder and Executive Director of Baltimore Action Legal Team. Copies of the book will be available for purchase during and after the event, and the co-editor and contributing authors will be signing following the program.
This event is free and open to all. Our program begins at 6:00 pm, and will be followed by an audience Q&A. Copies of LAWYERING FOR LIBERATION will be available for purchase before and after the event. Please note that this event is in person.
We ask that guests RSVP in order to receive direct updates about the event from Busboys and Poets Books
Where to find BALT in January
🎉HAPPY NEW YEAR!🎉 Are you or a loved one in need of FREE direct legal services like warrant recalls and expungements? We want to help 💜 visit our community lawyers at any of the following events in January!
Want to ensure access to FREE legal services to our loved ones and neighbors? Consider donating! Need is rising and resources are dwindling. We need your help TODAY.
We are taking a break in December
We are taking a break from new clients in December, see you in 2026!
Where to find BALT in November
Are you or a loved one in need of FREE direct legal services like warrant recalls and expungements? We want to help 💜 visit our community lawyers at any of the following events in November!
Where to find BALT in October
Where to find BALT in October
Are you or a loved one in need of FREE direct legal services like warrant recalls and expungements? We want to help 💜 visit our community lawyers at any of the following events in October!
Want to ensure access to FREE legal services to our loved ones and neighbors? Consider donating! Need is rising and resources are dwindling. We need your help TODAY.
Where To Find BALT In September
Where To Find BALT In September
Are you or a loved one in need of FREE direct legal services like warrant recalls and expungements? We want to help 💜 visit our community lawyers at any of the following events in September!
Want to ensure access to FREE legal services to our loved ones and neighbors? Consider donating! Need is rising and resources are dwindling. We need your help TODAY.
Black August Film Screening: A Vision Of Grace
BALT Presents: A Black August Screening of A Vision Of Grace!
A Vision of Grace by the upEND Movement and Montrose Grace Place highlights Youth Voices Empowered, a youth-led group amplifying the voices of young people facing housing insecurity in Houston. Through art workshops and personal storytelling, the film captures resilience, healing, and the power of chosen community.
Donations support Baltimore Action Legal Team’s 10th year of operation. BALT’s mission has been to abolish systems that criminalize Black people. BALT envisions a Baltimore where Black people use their power to determine justice within their communities. Donations support free legal services, bail fund operation and protester/organizer support.
BALT Is Taking A Break In August
BALT will not be taking new clients in August.
We will not be taking on new clients in the month of August as we catch up on clients from the first half of the year. If you or a loved one are seeking free legal services, please feel free to reach out and we will connect you with one of our partners. Thank you for helping us build capacity! 💜
Where To Find BALT In July
Are you or a loved one in need of FREE direct legal services like warrant recalls, expungements or help with changing name and gender markers? We want to help 💜 visit our community lawyer and paralegal at any of the following events in July!
Where to find BALT in June
Are you or a loved one in need of FREE direct legal services like warrant recalls, expungements or help with changing name and gender markers? We want to help 💜 visit our community lawyer and paralegal at any of the following events in June!
NOTE: Community lawyer will not be in attendance on 6/21 and 6/28, free legal services not available, information only. Come see us!
Where to find BALT in May
Are you or a loved one in need of FREE direct legal services like warrant recalls, expungements and name and gender marker changes? We want to help 💜 visit our community lawyer and paralegal at any of the following events in May!
Lawyer Up! The Family Policing System
Parents! Family members! we are inviting you to join us for a virtual Lawyer Up session with Natasha Khalfani from Maryland’s Office of the Public Defender!
Do you know your rights when navigating the family policing system? Do you know your rights if CPS comes to YOUR door?
This session will feature a 'Know Your Rights' training followed by discussion with Fathers Fighting For Fathers, Child First and Civil Rights Corps about alternatives to the family policing system and an introduction to OPD's 'Better Together Program'.
Where to find BALT In April
BALT’s Community Lawyer will be providing free warrant recall and expungement services at the following events:
Where to find BALT in March
BALT’s Community Lawyer will be providing free warrant recall and expungement services at the following events:
Where to find BALT in February
BALT’s Community Lawyer will be providing free warrant recall and expungement services at the following events:
Where to find BALT in January
BALT’s Community Lawyer will be providing free warrant recall and expungement services at the following events:
BALT is taking a break in December
We will be taking a brief winter break in December so we can catch up on warrant recalls and expungements for existing clients. If you do a loved one are seeking free legal services, please feel free to reach out to be connected to one of our partners.
Thank you for helping us build capacity and we apologize for any inconvenience. We look forward to seeing you in 2025!
Where to find BALT in November 2024
BALT’s Community Lawyer will be providing free warrant recall and expungement services at the following events:
Where to find BALT in October 2024
BALT’s Community Lawyer will be providing free warrant recall and expungement services at the following events:
Where to find BALT in September 2024
BALT’s Community Lawyer will be providing free warrant recall and expungement services at the following events:
BALT is taking a break in August
BALT is taking a break from community clinics in the month of August to catch up on our current clients. Thank you for your understanding and we will see you back in the community in September.
Where to find BALT May 2024
BALT’s Community Lawyer will be providing free warrant recall and expungement services at the following events:
