The Northwest Constitutional Rights Center safeguards the rights of political activists, communities of color and immigrants through public interest litigation, advocacy and education. The Center holds the government accountable for its unconstitutional actions, and works to create a just and equitable society. The Northwest Constitutional Rights is a project of the National Lawyers Guild.
The NW Center is working to make Portland's citizen-based police oversight system a truly independent body which is responsive to citizen complaints and that is more effective, democratic and fair. We also represent activists who have been targeted and attacked by police officers because of the political content of their message and individuals who have been victims of discriminatory enforcement of laws because of the way they look.
Listening Sessions Report - A Community and Police Partnership to Eliminate Racial Profiling [pdf]We believe that a healthy democracy depends on people's ability to freely question and criticize the government without fear of interference or retaliation. The NW Center works with the progressive activist community to ensure that their rights afforded by the U.S. and Oregon constitutions are protected from government abuse. To that purpose, the NW Center litigates on behalf of political activists in civil lawsuits against police abuse and government infringements upon fundamental rights of speech, association and privacy.