Know your rights: What protesters can and can't do as 'Good Trouble' rallies sweep Indiana

Indianapolis Star

3 days ago

Hoosiers in upwards of 25 cities across Indiana will exercise their First Amendment rights during the "Good Trouble Lives On" demonstrations happening this week around the country.
For those planning to join the rallies, here's what you should know about your protected rights and what actions should be avoided.
Protesters are granted certain freedoms under the First Amendment, including the right to:
These rights come with limitations, however.
Though not exhaustive, here are a few rules Hoosier protesters must follow, according to the ACLU of Indiana.
Story continues after photo gallery.
Story continues after photo gallery.
Yes, police can shut down a protest through a dispersal order, according to the ACLU of Indiana, but it must be used as a last resort in the following situations:
If officers choose to do so, they must provide protesters a reasonable opportunity to comply with the order, including sufficient time and a clear, unobstructed exit path, ACLU says.
Police should give demonstrators clear instructions concerning the dispersal order before they are arrested or charged with any crime, according to ACLU.
This includes how much time demonstrators have to disperse, the consequences of failing to do so, and a clear exit route they can follow.
The ACLU of Indiana suggests the following:
The "Good Trouble Lives On" demonstrations are being held to protest recent actions by President Donald Trump and his administration.
The organized demonstration borrows part of its name from the late Congressman John Lewis, and will involve gatherings across dozens of Indiana cities, including Indianapolis, Bloomington, Evansville and Fort Wayne.
The organizers of "Good Trouble Lives On" define the movement on their website as "a national day of action to respond to the attacks on our civil and human rights by the Trump administration."
The website urges readers to fight back against the recent "brazen rollback of civil rights," including attacks on voting rights, limiting freedom of protest and stripping of essential services.
Using the term coined by Lewis, "Good Trouble" refers to the act of coming together peacefully to challenge injustice and create meaningful change, according to the site.
A majority of the protests are scheduled on July 17, the fifth anniversary of Lewis' death.
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The times and addresses of the July 17-19 protests scheduled in Indiana can be found below. Rallies without addresses are marked as private events, which can be joined via the Good Trouble Lives On website.
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