Know Your Rights: A Legal Toolkit for Student Activists

Every student has a right to express their views by creating social movements, assembling, protesting, etc. Students have been instrumental in calling for societal change and challenging negative social norms. Sometimes this has been received negatively, especially by those who feel students are too disruptive. Therefore it is important to be aware of your rights as a student activist. The police have a right to put some restrictions on the right to protest, so it is important as well to know your rights before becoming an activist. However, as a student, you should not let the school workload hinder you. You can get online help such as getting a law assignment service to help you with schoolwork as you pursue your activism.

 Knowing about The First Amendment

The First Amendment protects five things, namely assembling, religion, petitioning, speech, and press. You are already entitled to it as a student activist, you dont need to be 18 and above, and you are also protected by it if you are an international student activist in the US. You should however know that you can be limited depending on where you are, for example on campus grounds. Before protesting, it is important to know that schools and institutions, even employers, are allowed to have their own rules when it comes to issues of expression and protesting, as long as they don’t ultimately hinder speech and the right to gather. The First Amendment is also a way of protecting you from the government, so that you don’t have to confess something you don’t believe in, especially in religious matters. These rights are for every student, no matter their political affiliations and beliefs. This will ensure that you do your activism without fear of being censored or intimidated into silence. You can express yourself in any way; fliers, speaking out, art, dressing up symbolically, etc.

Knowing Your Rights when Organizing and Attending an Activism Protest

 If you’re using public places like streets and parks, your rights are less limited there. You could even go as far as being outside a government property or building, but private property owners are allowed to set rules that may limit your right to protest on their grounds. This is important to know if you’re organizing a protest. If you organize one, you should also be aware that there may be counter-protesters, who are also entitled to their rights. The police are supposed to treat both you and them equally and can keep you separate if they suspect things may get out of hand. Separate doesn’t however mean that you won’t see and hear each other. When organizing a protest in a public place, you can also take photos and videos of the surroundings, but not while on someone’s private property.

If you’re attending one, almost the same principles apply; you’re safest in public, not private grounds, and in private places, your rights have certain restrictions. As an attendee of a protest, you don’t have to go look for a permit, you can freely attend any protest that suits your beliefs. It’s good to remember that as a student activist, you also have a responsibility to the other citizens of the state to ensure you don’t disrupt their day-to-day activities. You should also ensure that your protests don’t get violent or confrontational with the police or another opposing side.

Knowing What to Do Before Protesting On Campus

1. Prepare Adequately

Know the school guidelines regarding activism and the right to expression. Knowing these things will not only help you be protected, but you will also know what other rights to demand or what rights to defend. Don’t be afraid to ask if you don’t find these guidelines on your school’s website, handbooks, or other informational guides. This is the best place to start because if your school restrains you too much with their policies, you may want to deal with that first. If you’re aware of your rights and any limitations put on them by the school, and you can still go ahead and have a good legal protest, then go ahead without intimidation. Don’t however, start with the mindset that every administrator is out to get you, diplomacy and building allies with them can be very helpful.

2. Ensure Safety First

Anything can come up during a protest, so make sure you are safe, and protect anything of value that you have in your person. Things like cameras, smartphones, etc, should be protected so that you don’t lose them in the protest. Brief your fellow activists as to what is required of them, plan what to do, give warnings on what you don’t want done, and ensure they also keep their gadgets safe.

3. Don’t Do it Alone

Don’t do activism alone, find some people with the same beliefs. Even if it is your right, sometimes it is hard to be heard if you’re alone. Mobilize other students to join your cause, and recruit people who will recruit others. Make sure you can articulate the issue that you want dealt with properly to help others see the problem that needs to be dealt with. Once you get a good number that can see there’s a need for change, you can talk to them about activism and even organize a protest. On top of not doing it alone, don’t be naive. Don’t do anything that would make it hard for people to join your cause. Being too disruptive at the start, for example, may chase some away. Plan for when most of your group is available and when you’re most likely to be heard by the largest audience. Let people see that you know your rights, you are reasonable and you’re also sensitive to other people around you.

Know the Steps to Take in Case of any Rights Violation

It’s good to prepare for what may happen if things don’t go well. Make sure you have your records well kept as you go out, record every event you do, take photos, etc. These may serve as evidence later on. As you protest, make sure the record-keeping, in whatever form, continues. If there are witnesses, do reach out to them, and if need be, do file a complaint to the appropriate authorities for legal action

Student activism can be used as a force for good and for societal transformation, but it should be done responsibly. Make sure you know your rights, you believe truly in your cause, and you’re ready to rally others behind you to defend it using the legal measures available.