UCLA Law

Please join us to provide legal assistance to Santa Monica street vendors who are being criminalized by the Santa Monica Police Department. Recently, in collaboration with Santa Monica Code Enforcement and LA Department of Public Health, the Santa Monica Police Department has launched a task force aimed at arresting and citing vendors who sell fruit, hot dogs, snacks, and other merchandise near the Santa Monica Pier and beach. The police are ruthlessly harassing vendors, prohibiting them from selling, arresting them, issuing tickets for hundreds of dollars, throwing away their food and merchandise, confiscating their carts, and issuing court-ordered stay away orders from the pier area. This task force is making it nearly impossible for vendors to work and earn a living in Santa Monica. Many of the vendors speak limited English and some are undocumented, making them extremely vulnerable in the criminal legal system.

On Saturday, February 5th from 10:00am-11:30am, NLG-LA will host a legal clinic to provide assistance to the Santa Monica street vendors. We will advise vendors of their rights, help vendors facing infractions reduce their fines, evaluate criminal cases, and document instances of police misconduct. The clinic will be held at the St. Augustine By-The-Sea Church located at 1227 4th Street, Santa Monica. We are seeking volunteers to meet with street vendors at the clinic, with a high need for Spanish-speaking volunteers.

Please fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeR5Yxy3ti3ENoX5lQpwk_pK4kyB9Zk... to sign up to volunteer. We are trying to gauge availability and interest for the February 5th date, so please sign up asap if you are available.

Please feel free to contact Rebecca at Rebecca@nlg-la.org with any questions.