Police officers cannot confiscate or demand to view your phone or digital photos without a warrant.Even if it’s controversial, the First Amendment prohibits restrictions based on the content of speech. You also have the right to canvass and leaflet door-to-door at private residences.
It is probably permitted for law enforcement to place reasonable time, place and manner restrictions on a demonstration, such as keeping a large group of protesters across the street from the event they are protesting. “Protest zones” at events like presidential speeches or political conventions are becoming more common, but they do raise some constitutional questions. Nevertheless, officials do have the authority to place reasonable time, place and manner restrictions on demonstrations. Know Your Rights “Trainer-Training” Handout Stop & Search Scenario Scenario: Participant is riding bike away from a protest where demonstrators were blockading. LESSON PLAN: RIGHT TO PROTEST Human rights are the basic freedoms and protections that belong to every single one of us. This handout is intended for novice protesters. The other, less talky cop throws in quick, off-topic Town Hall Tactics (PDF): Advice for “crashing the party.” Finally, the following resources are referenced in the Basic Protest Safety handout above; I’m putting the links here again for ease of access: Know Your Rights: Free Speech, Protests & Demonstrations (ACLU) If you disobey the property owner's rules, they can order you off their property, and you may be arrested for trespassing if you refuse to comply. But sometimes the police themselves are the danger — to your rights. Photo Credit: Braden Gunem via Compfight cc We rely on cops to keep us safe.
Nevertheless, there are some restrictions to this practice. These are places where people have a reasonable expectation of being able to freely communicate their opinions with the fewest possible government limitations. Additionally, if an individual does not leave private property after being asked to do so, he or she can be arrested for trespassing. Basic Protest Safety (PDF): To help novice protesters plan ahead. However, it is questionable for law enforcement to place unreasonable restrictions on a protest, such as instituting a protest zone several blocks away and out of sight of the event in question.Yes. Two cops stop her and tell her she has to give them her ID.
For example, one cannot leaflet at a residence with “no trespassing” or “no soliciting” signs. No.
But bear in mind that the Constitution doesn’t protect everything under every circumstance; it doesn’t extend to libel, slander, obscenity, “true threats,” or speech that incites imminent violence or lawbreaking.The First Amendment protects counter-demonstrators, and they can voice their dissent, but no one is allowed to disrupt the other.
As long as you are not blocking building entrances or disrupting regular transit, you can give handouts to pedestrians. If you plan to protest, or are curious about the First Amendment, this guide will help you to know your rights as a peaceful protester. However, local authorities might require a permit for big events such as rallies and marches.If the treatment you receive was not compliant with the law, try to record the incident and take photos of any injuries.