The American Tradition of Protest—And Why it’s Under Attack
- Pamela Cross
- Apr 26
- 3 min read
Protest is as American as apple pie; our country was built on it—literally! From the Boston Tea Party in 1773 to the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s, and more recently the Women’s March in 2017 and the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, the right to protest has always been one of our most important tools for change. When the government isn’t listening to the will of the people, when elected officials fail us, when faced with injustice—Americans take to the streets. That is our history, our right, and our duty as citizens in a democracy.
The right to assemble peacefully and speak out against our government is guaranteed by The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution—ratified December 15, 1791.
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
It’s a protection written into the very foundation of this country. The right to protest covers every political issue, every group of people, and every movement seeking justice. Whether it’s workers demanding fair wages, folks fighting for equal rights for all, or communities standing up against police violence, protest is a cornerstone of democracy.
And yet, despite that clear constitutional protection, we’ve seen increasing efforts to restrict, criminalize, and silence protest under the current administration. In recent years, Republican-led state legislatures have passed a wave of anti-protest laws aimed at cracking down on public demonstrations. These laws increase penalties for blocking roads, expand police powers to detain and disappear protesters and organizers, and in some cases even protect drivers who hit protesters with their cars.
Yes, you read that last bit right. Several states—including Ohio—have introduced or passed bills that shield people from liability if they injure or kill protesters who are “blocking traffic” because evidently, in the eyes of some lawmakers, inconveniencing a morning commute is a crime punishable by death. Even when those “blocking traffic” have the proper permits and the roads have been closed for everyone’s safety.
We’ve have witnessed some truly horrific scenes over the past few years—tear gas, rubber bullets, militarized police forces treating American citizens like enemy combatants. We have seen peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters brutalized by police and demonized by the media while white insurrectionists walked freely through the Capitol on January 6th. We see activists arrested while neo-Nazis terrorizing out neighborhoods are offered police protection. The message here could not be clearer: Protest is only acceptable when it aligns with the agenda of those in power.
The right to protest is about holding those in power accountable and demanding change when voting and phone calls and polite letters aren’t enough. Every major social advancement in this country—civil rights, women’s suffrage, LGBTQIA2S+ equality, labor protections—happened because people came together and stood up, marched, and refused to back down in the face of injustice and corruption.
When our own lawmakers, the people who are meant to represent us all, try to strip us of this constitutional right, we should ALL be alarmed—no matter where we fall on the political spectrum. Today, this right is being threatened. We must not lose ground, the erosion of one freedom always leads to the breakdown of another. We must protect our right to protest as fiercely as we protect our right to vote because without it, democracy loses its meaning—it becomes nothing more than control by those who refuse to listen to us.
If you’re ready to get involved but are unsure where to start, Mobilize.Us is a great resource that can connect you with progressive campaigns, rallies, and advocacy events in your area. Another is 50501, a grassroots initiative organizing mass protests against the Trump administration’s policies. Democracy requires our participation and persistence so let’s get to work—our future depends on it!
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