Los Angeles Protesting Rights Lawyer

A group of people gathering together in public to express their disagreement with an act of injustice or decision made by government.

1^st Amendment

The right to assemble is recognized as a basic human right and protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution under the clause, “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.”

Organizations that Protect Your Right to Protest

For over 100 years, the American Civil Liberties Union has been the premier defender of the basic human rights enshrined in the United States Constitution. The ACLU has more than 1.5 million members, 300 staff attorneys and offices throughout the United States.   The ACLU vigorously protects the First Amendment and the right to assemble and protest.  Such rights are essential to a functioning democracy.

Support the ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/issues/free-speech/rights-protesters

NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc

Dr. Martin Luther King

Dr. Martin Luther King began a series of peaceful protests in the south that had a significant impact in changing laws dealing with the equality of African-Americans. King gave hundreds of moving speeches across the country, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.  Dr. King eloquently stated that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” That statement holds true today and we have been reminded of this fact through recent examples of injustice that stretch from Minneapolis to Atlanta and from Los Angeles to New York.  Likewise, Dr. King also pointed out that “we must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence.”

https://thekingcenter.org/

Notable Protests

The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

On August 28, 1963, approximately 250,000 people participated in this civil rights march in Washington D.C., where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I have a Dream” speech.

Women’s March

The Women’s March was a worldwide protest that took place on January 21, 2017, the day after the inauguration of President Donald Trump.  This was considered the largest single-day protest in United States History.  The number of protesters was estimated at 3.5-5 million people.

The March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation was a massive protest that took place in Washington DC on April 25, 1993. Organizers estimated the number of participants at 1,000,000.

Million Man March

The Million Man March was a large gathering of African-American men on October 16, 1995. This protest was organized by Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the Nation of Islam. The march took place on and around the National Mall in Washington D.C. One of the primary motivating factors for the march was to place black issues back on the nation’s political agenda. The number of participants has been estimated to be between 400,000 and 800,000 people.

March for Life

The March for Life is an annual march protesting both the practice and legality of abortion.  This annual protest is held in Washington, D.C. on or around the anniversary of the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade which legalized abortion nationwide.

Vietnam War Protests

The Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam was a massive demonstration and teach-in across the United States against the United States involvement in the Vietnam War. It took place on October 15, 1969.   This protest was followed a month later by a large Moratorium March in Washington, D.C.  Organizers estimated the number of participants in Washington at more than 250,000 people.

We strongly believe in your right to assemble, express your opinions and protest. If you have been arrested while peacefully protesting in California, we are here to assist you.  Please call our offices today for a consultation.