Freedom of Assembly/Protest Rights Archives

Remembering Kevin Zeese, Tireless Fighter for Our Democracy
September 8, 2020 –
Defending Rights & Dissent was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Kevin Zeese over the weekend. Over his life, he was on the frontlines of many causes–whistleblower protections, election integrity, single payer healthcare, net neutrality, reforming our criminal justice system, environmental justice, and peace.Kevin fought for peace over war, for democracy over corporate dominance. Kevin’s life embodied the importance of dissent to a democracy. He will be deeply missed.
Trump’s Antifa Boogeyman
June 4, 2020 –
People angry at the sorry state of the world and looking to build a better one go out and protest. Yet, across the country when people gathered to protest police violence, they themselves were met with police violence. Donald Trump has responded with a seemingly never ending stream of inflammatory tweets. On Monday, in a demagogic speech, he openly spoke of using the military on US soil against US citizens. How does Mr. Trump justify his actions? He’s decided to claim that what the nation is is seeing is preplanned, carefully orchestrated, professionally managed protests and violence. The instigator? Antifa.
Defending Rights & Dissent Condemns Nationwide Violence Against Anti-Police Brutality Protests
June 1, 2020 –
Over the last several days, we have seen shocking images of police violence against protesters. We have heard politicians at all levels of government, and from both sides of the aisle, speak of “outside agitators,” an age old lie told to delegitimize social movements, downplay rightful anger, and greenlight repression. These are dark and trying times. But it is precisely because of dark and trying times that we at Defending Rights & Dissent fight for the right to protest and engage in collective action aimed at building a more just world.
Church Committee Final Report, Book III, 1976
September 10, 2019 –
Take a deep dive into the observations o
Testimony to Wisc. Board of Regents Against Anti-Protest Rule
August 21, 2019 –
Direct link: https://drive.google.com/fi
Anti-Protest Bills, from National to State Level, Gain Ground
July 12, 2019 –
Following nationwide protests against pi
States Push Anti-Protest Bills In Response to Teachers’ Strikes
June 13, 2019 –
Throughout the states that saw major teacher strikes, retaliation has come in the form of threatening freedom of speech, assembly, and association. The goal of many of the laws are not only to make striking illegal, but to use the very communities that teachers struck for as political fodder.
NLRB threatens free association rights of Graduate student-workers
June 3, 2019 –
The announcement that the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) plans to roll back protections for Americans trying to collectively bargain and unionize is worrisome
Two New DHS Domestic Spying Scandals Revealed
March 7, 2019 –
Both Immigrations and Custom Enforcement (ICE) and Custom and Border Patrol (CBP) are engaged in monitoring and tracking First Amendment protected activity.Monitoring of political speech is inherently chilling. It is also outside the jurisdiction of both ICE and CBP.
Letter from Healthy Gulf RE: Mississippi Critical Infrastructure Bill
March 5, 2019 –
Direct link: https://drive.google.com/fi
Mississippi Legislature Takes Aim at Free Speech Rights of Landowners, Conservation Groups
March 5, 2019 –
Direct link: https://drive.google.com/fi
Coalition Letter of Opposition to Illinois Critical Infrastructure Bill 2019
March 5, 2019 –
Direct link: https://drive.google.com/fi
Local Resolution Against State Critical Infrastructure Bill
February 8, 2019 –
The Athens, Ohio City Council passed a r
What Activists Need to Know About Critical Infrastructure Bills
January 18, 2019 –
Direct link: https://drive.google.com/
Over 140,000 Comments Submitted in Response to NPS’s Proposed Protest Regulations
October 17, 2018 –
The National Park Service is considering new regulation that would severely curtail the right to protest. Reactions to these new regulations have been overwhelming. The comment period closed on October 15. We don’t yet know the total number of comments received, but so far the NPS has counted over 71,000 comments. This count is still growing.