Right to Protest

The First Amendment provides broad protections for our rights to protest and hold government officials accountable.

Are protest rights at risk in the United States?

We must be able to speak out to fight for the issues we care so deeply about. We need to protect people’s protest rights and stop the surveillance of — and retaliation against — both activists and journalists covering demonstrations.

A photograph of a large group of protestors with one sign in focus. The sign in focus says Hands Off and lists a variety of issues. — Photograph by Timothy Karr

Protecting democracy amid rising authoritarianism

From the very beginning, Donald Trump’s second term has featured exhaustive attempts to roll back basic rights, gut agencies to eliminate checks on his power, undermine an independent press and demonize any groups — including universities, activists, law firms, public-health experts and artists — that refuse to capitulate. Find out more about ways to fight authoritarianism.

Why is this an important issue?

Dissent and protest are foundational to our democracy. When laws oppress the power of the people, we fail to live up to our democratic ideals.