Since the dawn of America, protests have provided hope in times of darkness, they have inspired social change, and most importantly, are an outlet for citizens to express their personal beliefs. Currently, the idea and practice of protests is being threatened, although this threat is ironically being challenged by protesters.
The right to protest was built into the Constitution. The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights states that the government is not allowed to threaten a citizen’s right to peacefully assemble or petition the government for grievances, however, The Trump Administration is doing exactly that.
Reuters reports that in a Truth Social post, President Donald Trump has threatened to remove federal funding from any university that engages in protests, both peaceful and violent. In this threat, Trump deemed all protests illegal and stated that he would arrest or deport all participants of protests.
Some non U.S. citizens who are here legally have been sent to immigration detention sites for voicing their opinion. This has led to many younger individuals feeling as if they are not able to protest or participate in political movements. According to the Siena College Research Institute, roughly 55% of American citizens have refrained from speaking out or protesting about various societal issues due to fear of negative retaliation.
In response to what the Student Law Center believes are threats, the organization released an unprecedented student media alert.
According to NPR, there have been arrests made at peaceful protests. According to the Columbia Daily Spectator, 78 students were arrested on May 8 for protesting. Most protestors were later released. This has led to much of the younger generation and minorities being fearful to exercise their First Amendment right of free speech.
Despite these political issues, there is still an air of resistance and protest in America. In the Canton-Akron region specifically, there have been a multitude of citizen-led protests and movements, particularly in relation to the national organizations Indivisible and 50501.
Both organizations are independent grassroots movements designed to help every-day citizens voice their concerns about the government. Indivisible however, focuses more on local change, whereas 50501 has tended to be more focused on national protests.
“I wanted to create a local place where people can find community, hope and a sense of belonging in these scary times…. We hosted the first meeting the first week of December with 19 people, and this April meeting we had well over 200,” Indivisible Akron organizer Noelle Bowman said.
Many different people share this general sentiment across the nation with the April 5 Hands Off protest gathering over 600,000 people across the country.
“I saw what was going on in our country, things that affect our communities, things that affect the people around me. Things that affect people that I do not even know, but I know that it is wrong. I do not want to stand by on the sidelines and simply let things take place without even attempting to give a fight. If everyone had the mindset that someone else will take action, nothing will ever get done,” sophomore Alyssa Hendricks said.
America as a whole has also been built upon protests. Stonewall, the Boston Tea Party, and the Women’s Suffrage Parade are all key examples of protests that have changed the route this country has taken. Stonewall helped to advance the recognition of LGBTQ+ rights, the Boston Tea Party helped start the American Revolution, and the Women’s Suffrage Parade was one of the key moments that gave women the right to vote in America.
According to the American Bar Association, protesting in America is a meaningful form of dialogue. The country does not automatically assume that the protester is correct, however, it opens the floor for a large discussion, one that often promotes change throughout the nation.
This idea, however, has been challenged several times throughout the nation’s history. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History writes that former President Reagan was anti-protest, and even suggested using violence against college protests in his 1966 California Governor run. This was an attempt to shut down what he called a radical and leftist movement.
While resistance to protest has been prominent throughout America’s history, all forms of protest need to be protected, whether conservative or liberal. Protests provide hope for citizens who feel hopeless and they help make the change that the people want. It is unwarranted and unconstitutional to limit American citizens’ ability to protest no matter the reason. For more information relating to protesters’ rights, you can visit ACLU.
