Protesting with peace in mind

by J. Patrick Reilly

Protests are being held for good reasons and are within our rights.

The right to peaceful protest is not a nuisance to be managed or a threat to be silenced. It is a cornerstone of a free society, written plainly into the First Amendment and proven essential throughout American history. 

Peaceful protest allows ordinary citizens to be heard when those in power would rather not listen. It gives voice to frustration, hope, and dissent without resorting to violence. When conducted lawfully and nonviolently, protest strengthens democracy by forcing uncomfortable conversations into the open—where they belong.

A healthy democracy does not fear dissent. It expects it. The answer to speech we disagree with is not suppression, but more speech—reasoned, informed, and engaged. When citizens gather peacefully to demand change, they are not weakening the country; they are participating in its ongoing renewal.

Protecting the right to peaceful protest is not a partisan issue. It is an American one. Once that right is narrowed for one group or one cause, it becomes easier to narrow it for all. History shows that freedoms, once lost, are far harder to regain.

The true test of our commitment to liberty is not how we treat speech we like, but how we protect speech we find inconvenient. Peaceful protest deserves protection—every time, for everyone.