Civil lawsuits against activists
Sometimes, powerful corporations and individuals sue activists in an attempt to silence them. These suits are often meritless, but can force activists to constrain their advocacy and expend limited resources on legal fees. Here are key characteristics of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs):
In the aftermath of the collective liability case Doe v. McKesson, civil cases against organizers will be allowed to move forward in the Fifth Circuit. Here’s a guide to what that means on the ground:
Criminal
Dozens of anti-protest bills have been enacted across the country since 2017. Here’s a tracker of enacted, pending, and defeated legislation at the state and federal level.
Protests around pipelines incur particular risk for activists. Here are two resources about the rise of “critical infrastructure” anti-protest bills.