I decided to write this after hearing Harold Ford Jr. talk about the pro-Palestinian demonstrators who blocked the Manhattan Bridge amid holiday travel for hours. He said they had a right to protest as long as they were peaceful. I have heard this many times before but did you know that just because a protest is peaceful it does not mean it is legal and is a protected right?
The following is from the Oregon ACLU written to help
protesters so they know their rights:
“Generally, you have the right to distribute literature,
hold signs, collect petition signatures, and engage in other similar activities
while on public sidewalks or in front of government buildings as long as you
are not disrupting other people, forcing passerby to accept leaflets or causing
traffic problems.”
The ACLU goes on to say “The First Amendment does not
protect speech that is combined with the violation of established laws such as
trespassing, disobeying or interfering with a lawful order by a police officer.”
This notice also says that you do not have the right to
remain on private property, including businesses, after being told to leave by
the owner.
Your right to protest is very limited. Remember this next time someone defends protestors
who break the law.
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