The Showtime Amendment protects your right to assemble and express your views through protest. However, constabulary and other government officials are allowed to place certain narrow restrictions on the practice of speech rights. Make sure you're prepared by brushing upward on your rights earlier heading out into the streets.

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A collage of fists raised in protest and an image of someone using a cellphone.

I'1000 organizing a protest

Your rights

  • Your rights are strongest in what are known as "traditional public forums," such equally streets, sidewalks, and parks. Yous as well likely have the correct to speak out on other public property, like plazas in forepart of authorities buildings, equally long equally you are not blocking admission to the authorities building or interfering with other purposes the  holding was designed for.
  • Individual property owners tin gear up rules for spoken language on their belongings. The government may not restrict your speech if it is taking place on your ain property or with the consent of the holding possessor.
  • Counterprotesters besides have gratis voice communication rights. Police must care for protesters and counterprotesters equally. Police force are permitted to continue antagonistic groups separated but should permit them to be within  sight and sound of ane another.
  • When you are lawfully present in any public space, you take the right to photograph anything in plain view, including federal buildings and the police. On individual property, the owner may set rules related to photography or video.

Do I need a permit?

  • Yous don't need a let to march in the streets or on sidewalks, every bit long as marchers don't obstruct car or pedestrian traffic. If you don't accept a permit, police officers tin inquire you to move to the side of a street or sidewalk to let others pass or for safety reasons.
  • Certain types of events may crave permits. These include a march or parade that requires blocking traffic or street closure; a large rally requiring the use of sound amplifying devices; or a rally over a certain size at nearly parks or plazas.
  • While sure allow procedures require submitting an application well in advance of the planned event, police tin can't use those procedures to forestall a protest in response to breaking news events.
  • Restrictions on the route of a march or sound equipment might violate the Starting time Amendment if they are unnecessary for traffic control or public safety, or if they interfere significantly with effective communication to the intended audience.
  • A permit cannot be denied because the event is controversial or volition express unpopular views.
  • If the permit regulations that apply to your protest require a fee for a permit, they should allow a waiver for those who cannot afford the charge.

What to do if you believe your rights have been violated

  • When you can, write down everything yous remember, including the officers' bluecoat and patrol car numbers and the bureau they work for.
  • Become contact information for witnesses.
  • Accept photographs of any injuries.
  • In one case y'all have all of this data, you tin can file a written complaint with the bureau's internal affairs division or civilian complaint board.

I'm attention a protest

Your rights

  • Your rights are strongest in what are known equally "traditional public forums," such every bit streets, sidewalks, and parks. You also likely have the right to speak out on other public property, like plazas in front of government buildings, every bit long as you are not blocking access to the government building or interfering with other purposes the  property was designed for.
  • Private belongings owners can set rules for oral communication on their property. The regime may not restrict your speech if it is taking place on your own belongings or with the consent of the property possessor.
  • Counterprotesters likewise have free speech rights. Police must treat protesters and counterprotesters every bit. Police are permitted to keep antagonistic groups separated merely should permit them to exist within  sight and sound of 1 another.
  • When you are lawfully present in whatsoever public space, you accept the correct to photo anything in plain view, including federal buildings and the police. On private holding, the owner may set rules related to photography or video.
  • You don't need a permit to march in the streets or on sidewalks, as long as marchers don't obstruct auto or pedestrian traffic. If you lot don't have a permit, constabulary officers can ask you to move to the side of a street or sidewalk to let others pass or for rubber reasons.

What to exercise if you believe your rights take been violated

  • When you can, write downward everything you recall, including the officers' badge and patrol car numbers and the agency they piece of work for.
  • Get contact information for witnesses.
  • Take photographs of any injuries.
  • Once you lot accept all of this information, you can file a written complaint with the agency's internal affairs partition or civilian complaint lath.

What happens if the law problems an social club to disperse the protest?

  • Shutting down a protest through a dispersal gild must be law enforcement's last resort. Police may not suspension up a gathering unless in that location is a articulate and present danger of anarchism, disorder, interference with traffic, or other immediate threat to public safe.
  • If officers issue a dispersal lodge, they must provide a reasonable opportunity to comply, including sufficient time and a articulate, unobstructed exit path.
  • Individuals must receive clear and detailed detect of a dispersal guild, including how much time they accept to disperse, the consequences of failing to disperse, and what articulate exit road they can follow, before they may exist arrested or charged with whatever crime.

I want to have pictures or shoot video at a protestation

Your rights

  • When you are lawfully present in any public space, yous accept the right to photograph annihilation in plain view, including federal buildings and the police. (On private belongings, the owner may set rules about photography or video.)
  • Law officers may not confiscate or need to view your photographs or video without a warrant, nor may they delete data under whatsoever circumstances. However, they may society citizens to cease activities that are truly interfering with legitimate police enforcement operations.
  • If you lot are videotaping, be aware that in that location is an of import legal distinction between a visual photographic record (fully protected) and the audio portion of a videotape, which some states have tried to regulate under land wiretapping laws.

What to do if you are stopped or detained for taking photographs

  • E'er remain calm and never physically resist a law officeholder.
  • Police cannot detain you lot without reasonable suspicion that you lot take or are near to commit a crime or are in the process of doing and then.
  • If you are stopped, ask the officer if you are complimentary to leave. If the answer is yes, calmly walk away.
  • If you are detained, ask the officer what offense y'all are suspected of committing, and remind the officer that taking photographs is your correct under the Beginning Amendment and does not constitute reasonable suspicion of criminal action.

What to practice if y'all believe your rights have been violated

  • When you tin can, write down everything you retrieve, including the officers' badge and patrol motorcar numbers and the agency they piece of work for.
  • Become contact information for witnesses.
  • Accept photographs of whatsoever injuries.
  • In one case you accept all of this information, you can file a written complaint with the agency's internal affairs segmentation or civilian complaint board.

I was stopped by the police while protesting

Your rights

  • Stay calm. Make sure to proceed your hands visible. Don't argue, resist, or obstruct the police, even if you believe they are violating your rights. Point out that you are not disrupting anyone else'due south activity and that the First Amendment protects your actions.
  • Ask if you are complimentary to leave. If the officeholder says aye, calmly walk away.
  • If you lot are under abort, you have a correct to ask why. Otherwise, say you wish to remain silent and inquire for a lawyer immediately. Don't say anything or sign anything without a lawyer.
  • You lot have the correct to make a local call, and if you're calling your lawyer, police are not allowed to listen.
  • Y'all never have to consent to a search of yourself or your property. If yous do explicitly consent, it can affect you afterward in court.
  • Police may "pat down" your clothing if they suspect you lot have a weapon and may search you after an arrest.
  • Law officers may not confiscate or demand to view your photographs or video without a warrant, nor may they delete data nether any circumstances. Nonetheless, they may order citizens to terminate activities that are truly interfering with legitimate law enforcement operations.

What to practise if you believe your rights have been violated

  • When you tin can, write down everything you lot remember, including the officers' badge and patrol car numbers and the agency they work for.
  • Get contact information for witnesses.
  • Take photographs of whatsoever injuries.
  • Once you accept all of this information, you lot can file a written complaint with the agency's internal diplomacy division or civilian complaint lath.