protest rights Archives - Davis Vanguard

ACLU Challenges North Dakota Road Closure, Citing First Amendment Violation

By Jacqueline ParkJuly 22, 20260 comments

The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of North Dakota filed an amicus curiae brief in Thunderhawk v. Morton County, supporting litigants challenging the closure of a public road near the Standing Rock Reservation. The organizations argued that the road closure violated First Amendment protections, contending that public thoroughfares have historically served as traditional public forums for assembly and the free exchange of ideas.

Golden Gate Bridge Protester Says Prosecution Signals Broader Crackdown on Political Dissent

By David M. GreenwaldJuly 17, 202622 comments

Jordan Harger, a participant in the Golden Gate Bridge protest, asserted that the conviction of seven demonstrators on misdemeanor charges, following a jury’s deadlock on felony conspiracy counts, signals an escalating trend toward the criminalization of political dissent. Harger described the prosecution as emblematic of a broader shift in how Bay Area authorities address political activism.

Mamdani Vetoes One Protest Buffer Zone Bill as NYCLU Warns Fight Is Not Over

By Kiyana ColeApril 26, 20260 comments

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani vetoed Intro 175-B, a protest buffer zone measure that civil liberties advocates said threatened free speech rights, while a separate protest-related bill passed the City Council with a veto-proof majority.

Guitarist Sues DHS over Injuries Sustained During ICE Raid on Cannabis Farm

By Ava CiresiApril 15, 20260 comments

A guitarist and recording engineer has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, alleging he suffered severe and lasting injuries after federal agents used force during a military-style ICE raid at a cannabis farm, raising concerns about free speech protections and the use of aggressive tactics in civilian settings.

Judge Drops Charges Against Activist Arrested for Public Indecency

By Vanguard AdministratorApril 9, 20260 comments

Martin Moulton, a nudism activist, had all charges against him dismissed by a San Francisco court after he was arrested for public indecency during a vigil for Grateful Dead cofounder Bob Weir, with the judge citing the park ranger’s choking of Moulton as dangerous and disturbing.

Terrorism Convictions in Alleged Antifa Cases Raise Concerns over Free Speech and Protest Rights

By Maya JoshiMarch 18, 20261 comments

Eight people have been convicted on terrorism charges for their alleged ties to the antifa movement, raising concerns about the potential criminalization of protest activity and the limits of First Amendment protections.

Amicus Brief Alleges Excessive Force by Federal Agents in LA Protests

By David M. GreenwaldDecember 2, 20250 comments

Physicians for Human Rights has filed an amicus brief in the L.A. Press Club v. Kristi Noem case, arguing that U.S. federal law enforcement repeatedly misused rubber bullets, pepper balls, tear gas canisters and flash-bang grenades against journalists, medics and peaceful demonstrators during protests in Los Angeles in the summer of 2025.

DHS Accused of Using Excessive Force, Violating Court Order in Chicago Protest

By Ria BaggaOctober 30, 20250 comments

The Chicago Headline Club has filed a notice in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois alleging that agents from the Department of Homeland Security violated a temporary restraining order limiting federal agents’ use of force during a protest in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood.

Court Issues Injunction against DHS for Violating First Amendment Rights

By Kayla BetuliusSeptember 15, 20251 comments

A federal district court has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Department of Homeland Security from assaulting or retaliating against journalists, legal observers and protesters in Southern California, affirming the First Amendment rights of those documenting and protesting violent immigration raids.

Recent Posts