Legal Observer Joseph Bolandrina: He is the ‘eyes and ears’ during protest actions
By Cristina DC Pastor
If Joseph Bolandrina were in Minnesota during the anti-ICE protests that led to the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, this Legal Observer would have a lot to write about.
But Bolandrina, 62, lives in the northeast — Athol, Massachusetts to be exact — where he monitors the actions of law enforcement, including police officers, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, and sometimes even private security guards. He serves as a Legal Observer for the National Lawyers Guild (NLG), a non-profit organization working in defense of the “rights of protesters…providing legal support for movements for social justice.”
“I monitor law enforcement behavior to ensure the constitutional rights of all participants are protected,” said Bolandrina when reached by The FilAm.
In short, he is the “eyes and ears” during protest rallies, demonstrations or any kind of mass actions. He is supposed to be impartial, detached, and unaffiliated with any police or military organization. In any activity, he is expected to stay on the sideline and should not be taking photos.
He can take notes, like a journalist does: Time when violence erupted, crowd behavior, police badges, vehicle number, and the like.
“We track police activity to deter any wrongdoing. We document what we see on the ground,” he said.
In the case of Minnesota, Bolandrina does not believe there was a Legal Observer on the ground because “nobody could have anticipated what was going to happen,” he said.
In one of his assignments, he was sent to the Burlington ICE facility just to “observe and report.” Not to do anything that would put him in harm’s way. A client of NLG alerted them to a planned gathering that had the potential to “turn south,” he said. Joe showed up and filed his report that could be used to document the activity. The event was peaceful and did not end up in court.
In another assignment, he was asked to go to Boston University where a speaker was invited to talk about a “controversial topic.” Joe was unable to attend because of a conflict in schedule.
“Our reports are used in court filings. We document the chronology of events, time of incident, statements from witnesses, type of arrests, charges…We’re there for transparency,” he said. “The client of NLG wants to make sure there is no impropriety, no police brutality, especially now in the current climate.”
Joe is a retired U.S. Army sergeant. He recently completed specialized training to become a Legal Observer. He is often seen at political rallies sporting a neon green hat.
A pillar of the FilAm community in Boston, he is proud of his years of volunteer work for
Iskwelahang Pilipino, the longest-running Filipino cultural school in the United States which connects young FilAms with their roots through music, dance, and community outreach.
He had been recognized through the Officer Richard J. McLaughlin Community
Service Award (2021), the American Red Cross Heroes Award, Worcester Telegram & Gazette (2006), and Wentworth Institute of Technology’s the Isaiah Thomas Award for his “outstanding contribution and volunteer services” (2004). He views his new role as a continuation of his oath to the Constitution.
“It’s a duty that I am proud to volunteer for and use my military training in the spirit of
teamwork and discipline,” he said. In a time of heightened political tension, Joseph’s takes his presence as a Filipino American veteran on the front lines seriously.
His father, the late Ambrosio Bolandrina was from Taganaan, Surigao del Norte while his mother, the late Teotima Barcinas Bolandrina was from Maribojoc, Bohol. He wants the community to be mindful that whether on a bicycle for a cure, in a cultural school for heritage, or on a protest line for justice, the mission to serve is constant.
“I stand up for what is right,” he told The FilAm. “Especially now that I have a grandson who is 13 months old I stand up whatever way I can. I can’t be a spectator, I have to be a participant.”
