Protestors' Rights

aka Right To Protest

04/27/2012

This Week in Civil Liberties

This Week in Civil Liberties (4/27/2012)

By Rekha Arulanantham, ACLU at 5:23pm

What law threatens the Occupy movement’s and other activists’ right to protest?

What bill recently passed by the House did the President threaten to veto because of its privacy problems?

Which court heard arguments this week regarding Arizona’s anti-immigrant bill, S.B. 1070?

In which state does U.S. citizen and ACLU plaintiff Jim Shee carry his passport at all times because the color of his skin makes him look suspicious?

04/26/2012

H.R. 347

Ready to Occupy? What You Need to Know about H.R. 347, the "Criminalizing Protest" Law

By Gabe Rottman, Legislative Counsel, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 11:35am

Occupy, NATO and the party conventions are all coming up this year. Know your rights under the newly signed protest law.

03/21/2012

Protestors' Rights

In Court Today: Protecting the Right to Protest the President

By Kate Wood, Fellow, ACLU Speech, Privacy and Technology Project at 10:25am

People who disagree with the president have as much a right to be heard as those who wish to praise him. Today at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, the ACLU will be defending the free speech rights of presidential protestors who were discriminated against solely for the messages on their signs.

03/08/2012

H.R. 347

How Big a Deal is H.R. 347, That “Criminalizing Protest” Bill?

By Gabe Rottman, Legislative Counsel, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 11:56am

Recent days have seen significant concern about an unassuming bill with an unassuming name: the "Federal Restricted Buildings and Grounds Improvement Act of 2011." The bill, H.R. 347, has been variously described as making the First Amendment illegal or criminalizing the Occupy protests.

The truth is more mundane, but the issues raised are still of major significance for the First Amendment.

03/06/2012

Protestors' Rights

Shot in the Face: Pepper-Sprayed U.C. Davis Students Tell Their Story

By Rebecca Farmer, ACLU of Northern California at 6:43pm

The ACLU of Northern California is representing students and alumni in a lawsuit against U.C. Davis and individual police officers.

11/23/2011

Protestors' Rights

Police Violence on Occupy Protestors Is Unhealthy for Democracy

By Linda Lye, Staff Attorney, ACLU of Northern California at 2:29pm

Around California and all over the country, we have been told that Occupy encampments must come down because of "health and safety concerns." But all around the country, we have seen the police take down these encampments with an overzealous use of pepper spray, tear gas and flash-bang grenades. The real "health threat" we should be concerned about is the threat to the health of our democracy when the government reacts to peaceful political expression with police violence.

11/16/2011

Protestors' Rights

Yesterday’s Occupy Wall Street Evacuation: Protecting Public Health or Endangering It?

By Ateqah Khaki at 11:05am

Early yesterday morning, under Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s order, the New York Police Department expelled hundreds of Occupy Wall St. protestors from Zuccotti Park. Mayor Bloomberg asserted public health and safety reasons, but the New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) disagrees.

In a statement released yesterday, NYCLU executive director Donna Lieberman said:

11/04/2011

Protestors' Rights

Minnesota Law Enforcement Can't Make Up Rules As They Go Along

By Jana Kooren, ACLU of Minnesota at 5:04pm

Hennepin County in Minnesota created new restrictions just for OccupyMN that are not based on any existing laws or ordinances.

11/03/2011

Protestors' Rights

Whether You Occupy or Tea Party, Know Your Rights!

By Sam Ritchie, ACLU at 5:17pm

We've released a new Know Your Rights guide to demonstrations and protests, which covers where you can march, when the government can require permits and more.

11/01/2011

Protestors' Rights

A Win for Freedom of Speech and Occupy Nashville

By Hedy Weinberg, ACLU of Tennessee at 5:33pm

Yesterday the ACLU of Tennessee filed a federal lawsuit to protect the First Amendment rights of Occupy Nashville protesters. By late afternoon, a judge ordered the state to stop enforcing rules that violated the demonstrators’ freedom of speech and assembly.

The demonstrators have been gathered peacefully at the plaza in front of Nashville's statehouse to express their frustration since October 7. Historically, other groups have been permitted to gather at the plaza without a permit. But last week, the state adopted new rules significantly restricting use of the plaza, requiring a permit and liability insurance, and imposing a curfew by fiat in secret and without notice.

American Civil Liberties Union