Protest is the voice of the people. Wherever injustice arises, the people come together to raise their voices in protest. This right to dissent is at the heart of our democracy. From the civil rights movement to Vietnam War protests to Black Lives Matter, protest bends the arc towards justice.
But protest is under attack. Our rights to free speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association — including our right to organize and participate in protests, demonstrations, boycotts, and civil disobedience — have come under siege. Police and prosecutors are cracking down on dissent, and anti-protest bills are proliferating across the country. Corporations, primarily Big Oil, have hijacked the court system to silence critics. Our fundamental political rights are in danger, and it is crucial to fight back.
The nature of the sweeping attack on dissent means that strategizing will be needed across groups and at every level.
We present the Free to Speak Bill of Rights as a tool to aid organizing in defense of free speech and democracy.
Free to Speak
Bill of Rights
What you can do with the Free to Speak Bill of Rights
Pass a resolution.
Much of the suppression of protest is happening at the state or local level. Advocating for the passage of a resolution can pressure lawmakers to take a stand for the core democratic value of defending dissent. If the resolution is passed, you can hold them accountable to the values and statements in the Free to Speak Bill of Rights. If legislators pass anti-protest legislation, you can remind them of their commitments. And even if the resolution is not passed, it can be a powerful tool in the broader effort to convince lawmakers to stand up for civil liberties.
Secure campaign promises.
Meet with local candidates to ensure they're committed to protecting protest, boycotts, and civil disobedience. Get them on record and hold them accountable.
Use the Free to Speak Bill of Rights as an organizing tool.
Diverse organizations and affinity groups can use the Bill of Rights to find common ground and align values around the protection of free speech. We encourage organizers to use the Bill of Rights as a civil liberties advocacy entrypoint and have included additional resources describing policy proposals to restrain police powers and curtail surveillance in defense of protest.
Draw on the Free to Speak Bill of Rights as a messaging tool.
With dissent under siege and protesters all too frequently maligned in the media, the Free to Speak Bill of Rights and accompanying resources set out an affirmative agenda explaining why dissent is critical in a democratic society.
We want your stories:
How have you used the Free to Speak Bill of Rights in your community? Let us know, and we’ll uplift your story! Contact us:
Who We Are
We are a broad coalition of national, state, and local organizations that fiercely defend the right to protest and free speech. We defend and advocate for a myriad of causes including the First Amendment, protestor legal defense, climate justice, reproductive rights, Palestinian liberation, and more. We are aligned around protest as a critical tool for liberation and the keystone of a democratic society.
We’ve drawn on our networks to provide the resources you might need while hitting the streets: information about knowing your rights, defending yourself against surveillance, and understanding the scope and history of this current wave of repression. These resources were created and vetted by members of our networks who are deeply engaged in protecting protest rights.
Endorsements
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I adapt the Free to Speak Bill of Rights?
Absolutely! Feel free to adapt the Free to Speak Bill of Rights for your community. Please note, however, that our organizational endorsements don’t transfer over to modified versions.
How was the Free to Speak Bill of Rights created?
The Free to Speak Bill of Rights arose out of a frustration that, while we could fight anti-protest bills one at a time, there was a clear need for an affirmative vision of protest. A coalition of protest-driven organizations created the Free to Speak Bill of Rights as a proactive tool to advocate for the right to dissent.
Who do I contact with feedback?
Fill out our feedback/contact form, or reach out to freetospeak@rightsanddissent.org.
What do I do if my rights are being violated while protesting, or if I get criminally charged?
Call the National Lawyers Guild Mass Defense Hotline: (404) 458-9449 and email massdef@nlg.org. The National Lawyers Guild can tell you your rights and help you find no- or low-cost legal defense, if necessary.
