For your info:

James Lafferty is executive director of the National Lawyers Guild of Los Angeles, a human-rights bar association, and host of The Lawyers Guild, a weekly public affairs program on KPFK-FM. He has served as a national leader of various anti-war coalitions, including the National Peace Action Coalition, the anti-Vietnam War coalition that organized the largest protests during that war; the National Coalition for Peace in the Middle East; and the National Campaign to End U.S. Intervention in the Philippines. In the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, his law firm— Lafferty, Reosti, Jabara, Papakhian & Smith—represented virtually all of the left political movements in and around Detroit, Michigan. In New York City, in the late ’80s and early ’90s, as associate director for the Center for Seafarer’s Rights, he organized on behalf of the rights of merchant seafarers and also taught a course at the New School for Social Research entitled “Vietnam: The War at Home and Abroad.”He serves on the steering committee of the anti-war coalition International A.N.S.W.E.R./L.A.

Jim Lafferty has been around a long time and is well known in the Los Angeles Progressive commuity.  I have never heard Jim Lafferty advocate violence.  You can listen to him every Thursday night on KPFK.  You might want to call him and talk to him personally before you blog about him advocating violence!

I think OccupyLA and others should be aware of the kinds of people who will associate themselve with it in professional capacities. Lafferty's long time partner Abdeen Jabara has a long record of Marxist-Socialist/Communist credentials. As the wiki (link below) states: "Jabara represented a strange convergence of a pro-Arab, anti-Israel activist who worked hand-in-hand with the communists, especially the Trotskyite Socialist Workers Party".

I will bet you the other 'partners' are also of this ilk. While they have some righteous greivances and have done some good work, it should behoove people to know the ideological nature behind such personalities in the Communist-front--The National Lawyers Guild.

Never EVER has a socialist or Communist educated the people or attacked the pivotal cause of societal upheaval with the founders of the fraudulent monetary-bankster scams, such as is embodied in the Federal Reserve and other International Financial bodies. Nor do they dare expose who financed and composed the Marxist Revolutionary forces since before the days of the Bolshevik Revolution.

http://keywiki.org/index.php/Abdeen_Jabara

Ronald Reosti (born c.1938)--of Detroit, Wayne County, Mich. Socialist Workers candidate for Michigan State attorney general, 1970; Socialist Workers candidate for Presidential Elector ro Michigan, 1972, 1976.

just read in comments that the woman who is continually promoting her own credentials, whatever they may or not be, has been de-blogged, finally ! there are those who want to USE OLA for their own promotional advantage and self-service and it has been clear from prior writings she is doing just that...but was 'allowed' to abuse the privilege of having a blog that comes up front on Home Page easily repeatedly. Blogs seem to have big priority to be seen/ read over Forums and other relevant discussions too….

it has not been discovered whatever it is that it takes to 'Get a Blog here on OLA' - which a select few have…but some of us cannot find out how to get a relevant one - not even as often we do contribute here either.

that Blasco is pretend-repeatedly 'asking' or rather accusing and with great hubris questioning someone else’s validity to be helping OLA, one who has been for a very long time devoted to helping monitor and assist in many demonstrations, movements, protests, gatherings on various topics...and has spoken coherently and intelligently on KPFK programs -- and has responded to individual questions when encountered anywhere...Jim Lafferty has and does still GIVE of what he knows and has..be it info and thoughtfulness and assistance.

That woman’s questioning here: ...."From the records, it looks as if he intentionally let his license go. I do not know and only he can explain such things. In California, a lawyer must be licensed to practice law, which includes giving legal advice or information. " .... is a technicality that has no relevance to OLA anyhow...as well clarified " by tclouie on Sat, 10/22/2011 - 8:53pm " above - clearly stated also. I agree.

Anyone with a professional license or certification may retire…. or let it go [ = not pay high fees but that does not erase one’s mind or knowledge = nothing changes when money is not paid to state to keep on t their official lists ]. They may not bill professionally to some business legally tho many continue or do so without their ever obtained licenses to show qualifications too.

Check out all the paralegals, life coaches, masseuses, etc. who have only their own image, charm, and some skills w/o certification- and only deterrence to earning money for services is they may not be able to bill insurance companies, which some even do ! They can get paid for services that maybe [may- be not standardized or examined by other experts] good or equal to those certified…at times…by any private person or even company/ business too.

anyhow, to not have papers AFTER having had them, w/o any malpractice or other public disclosures of bad practices made, is Not a sign of a bad practiced person, tho Sue may be making that implication w/o daring to say so openly.

Many retire after the system gets too difficult to wield, or due to age or disabilities, or when it is not worth the effort to stay licensed as “in ordinary' business practices”...which does not mean anything about WHAT THEY KNOW, WHAT HELP THEY CAN GIVE LEGITIMATELY, WHAT THEY CAN DO WITH THEIR LIVES of SERVICE…one can still know and do work that is not 'licensed' officially by the State, Fed or Govt anywhere, or even paid-for-lobbyst-prof'l-assns and Chamber of Commerce, et al.

So let's stop maligning a man many have been helped by, a man who is still dedicated to improving our social legal condition and someone who - if anyone meets him in person - will immediately Recognize this Jim Lafferty that is valuable, worthy, and with good intentions and lots of residual know-how too.

Maligning and demeaning by subtle pretend-questioning is harassment and makes OLA divisive, on purpose for their own selfish reasons...not for unity or progress or honestly wanting to know anything ! This should have been and could have stopped way earlier than allowing this to continue on so long and maliciously.

Can we stop this on line mis-use of OLA website ? and return to making positive changes so needed to change our culture, OUR govt, our businesses, and our people, lawyers included. Sharks there are many, and the few exceptions are just swimming around not eating up anyone - but are easily shot down by those who want to eat bigger and more. Sue. A shark. As noted in on line repeated self promotions and implied negative questioning - - instead of contacting the person being accused who can best answer her directly - be it Jim or anyone else she does like or want.

soooooooooo tired of this interfering none sense........
back to working for the Movement's moving ahead... onward…..let’s move …..change…..