Protest is a fundamental human right, and has been at the heart of some of our most powerful social movements, exposing injustice, demanding accountability, and inspiring people to keep fighting for change. But the world’s trends towards the militarization of police and the shrinking of civic space are making it increasingly difficult to protest safely.
Across the United States, activists are rising up against mass arrests and deportations by the government agency ICE, or Immigration and Customs Enforcement, led by President Trump’s self-proclaimed “law-and-order” administration. But despite their efforts to stay peaceful, the government has stepped up its use of force at protests. The heightened presence of the military and local law enforcement has had unintended consequences, including bloodying the eye of a homeless man in a wheelchair at a demonstration against a ICE facility in Los Angeles.
The government’s attempt to thwart protests by casting activists as “hateful extremists” has been equally dangerous, as evidenced by a tweet from former Cabinet minister Penny Mordaunt, who accused Jewish protesters of wanting “death to Jews.” This, combined with the Trump administration’s effort to expand criminal punishments for constitutionally protected peaceful protest, indicates a growing crackdown on the ability of activists to make their voices heard.
States have a duty to respect, facilitate and protect protests. But they should not interfere with them unless there is a real threat to the safety and rights of others, such as in cases where protesters are trespassing or blocking public spaces. Amnesty International is working to expose when these rights are violated and support movements in their demands for justice.
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