There are many ways to be civically engaged and politically participate. While voting may be the form of political participation people are most familiar with, protest is also a valuable and legitimate form of political participation and expression. Your right to communicate your desire for change and hold government accountable through protest is embedded in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Many of you, this weekend or in the near future, will make the decision to exercise your First Amendment rights by participating in protests in the greater Auburn/Opelika area or in your hometowns. According to attorney Emerson Sykes, "the government cannot stop you from peacefully protesting, however, they can place certain restrictions on the time, manner, and place of the protest. For example, barring protestors from walking on the highway or enacting a curfew. They cannot block a protest simply because of the content....and there are protections for spontaneous protests that occur in response to current events."
As you prepare to use protest in the fight for social justice and equality, I/we encourage you to review the information below and make sure you are aware of your rights and have a plan before, during, and after protesting should you find yourself injured, detained, or separated from your group or personal property:
- The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Know your Rights Protestors Guide
- The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Alabama: Know your Rights while Protesting Police Brutality
- Amnesty International: Safety During a Protest
- Full comments from Emerson Sykes
Statement and resources provided by Dr. Bridgett King, Assistant Professor & MPA Program Director in the Auburn University Department of Political Science.