Whether in the form of walkouts, encampments or creative expression, student protest has long been a force to be reckoned with. Students have used it to advocate for everything from better health care to a more diverse curriculum. But a successful student movement requires a lot of discipline and focus to be effective. As a panelist on our latest Campus Freedom Forum—”What Is an Effective Protest Today?”—constitutional law professor Lisa Browne-Marshall pointed out, many college campuses have implemented stricter rules about protest activities. This includes prohibiting overnight camping, as Columbia University recently did in the face of a large protest encampment. The intersection between protest and immigration status—as in the case of Yunseo Chung, a 21-year-old Columbia University student and legal permanent resident who has been facing deportation proceedings for her participation in antiwar demonstrations—is also a key issue.
A successful protest needs to have a clear message and be well-publicized, so that everyone understands what is at stake. It also needs to be a peaceful activity that does not interfere with classes or traffic. And it must take place in an area of your school that is open to all students.
If you do all of these things, your protest should be protected by the First Amendment and private colleges’ similar speech policies. But students sometimes encounter overly restrictive policies, such as those that forbid leafleting and petitioning without a permit on campus. If you notice such a policy at your school, contact FIRE to learn more about your rights.