{"id":5568,"date":"2019-10-10T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-10-10T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www-prod.greenpeace.org\/usa\/the-right-to-protest\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T12:36:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T12:36:18","slug":"the-right-to-protest","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/usa\/the-right-to-protest\/","title":{"rendered":"The Right to Protest"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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The right to protest<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Our First Amendment right to protest is under attack by Big Oil and other corporate interests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Democracy under threat<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The right to protest is constitutionally protected and has been a hallmark of our democracy since the nation\u2019s founding. Yet today, our First Amendment freedoms are under serious threat, as legislatures across the country\u2014backed by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and fossil fuel companies\u2014seek to criminalize dissent and silence protests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our constitutionally protected right to protest has long been central to democracy, yet First Amendment freedoms are now at serious risk. Legislatures nationwide, influenced by ALEC and fossil fuel companies, are working to stifle dissent and raise the cost of protest, making it increasingly risky for activists and BIPOC communities to oppose projects that threaten their communities. Since the 2017 Standing Rock Protest, more than 300 state-level anti-protest bills have been introduced, disproportionately impacting BIPOC communities. Recently, we\u2019ve seen an increased use of \u201cstate terrorism\u201d laws and aggressive prosecutorial and civil litigation tactics to deter activism.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\"Protests<\/figure><\/div>\n\n
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\"Protests<\/figure>
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Upholding our rights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

By exposing the fossil fuel industry and lobbying entities like ALEC, blocking anti-protest laws, and pushing proactive strategies to defend the right to protest, we counter this threat and safeguard our ability to protect people and the planet through peaceful protest. We remain committed to opposing anti-protest legislation and advancing laws that uphold our fundamental right to dissent.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

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Learn more about…<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Individual activists and advocacy groups threatened by SLAPPs (strategic lawsuit against public participation), rally against corporate bullies like the Kasowitz Benson Torres law firm and stand up for our First Amendment rights. This New York-based firm has been hired by logging giants and oil pipeline companies to sue advocacy organizations like Greenpeace \u2014 as well as dozens of individual climate activists.
\u00a9 Michael Nagle \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The right to dissent<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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\"Activist
Activist protest in front of the White House during The No More Excuses: Voting Rights Now! Action. An intergenerational protest in front of the White House to pressure President Biden to fix or nix the filibuster to support voting rights!\nThe reforms in the Freedom to Vote Act will get big money out of politics, restore voting rights, offer new protections for voters, end gerrymandering so that electoral districts are fairly drawn, and hold government officials accountable with new ethics standards. This will help return power to the people, and ensure that we have a healthy democracy so that we can have a healthy planet we can all thrive on.<\/figcaption>
\u00a9 Tim Aubry \/ Greenpeace<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Freedom to vote<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Related news and updates<\/h2>\n
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