Whether they’re demanding justice for George Floyd, fighting alongside water protectors against the construction of the KXL pipeline or protesting President Trump’s policies during his planned visit to the Black Hills on July 3, activists throughout South Dakota are taking to the streets to express their opinions, their outrage and their demands for change.
The right to join with fellow citizens in protest or peaceful assembly is critical to a functioning democracy and at the core of the First Amendment. Unfortunately, law enforcement officials sometime violate this right through means intended to thwart free public expression.
That’s why the ACLU of South Dakota is hosting a virtual Know Your Rights While Protesting training on June 30.
“The Constitution protects your right to peacefully assemble and protest, but doing so it isn’t without risk,” said Candi Brings Plenty, the ACLU of South Dakota’s indigenous justice organizer. “Standing up for your right to protest can be challenging, especially when demonstrations are met with the threat of violence. Knowing your rights and what actionable steps to take if you experience or witness police misconduct is important. If you are heading out to a protest, it is essential to remember your rights and to utilize them properly.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Know Your Rights While Protesting Training
WHEN: 7 p.m. (6 p.m. MT) June 30
WHERE: Zoom – URL provided after registration
FOR INFORMATION: Go to https://www.aclusd.org/events
About the ACLU of South Dakota
The American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of civil liberties and civil rights. The ACLU of South Dakota is part of a three-state chapter that also includes North Dakota and Wyoming. The team in South Dakota is supported by staff in those states.
The ACLU believes freedoms of press, speech, assembly, and religion, and the rights to due process, equal protection and privacy, are fundamental to a free people. In addition, the ACLU seeks to advance constitutional protections for groups traditionally denied their rights, including people of color, women, and the LGBTQ and Two Spirit communities. The ACLU of South Dakota carries out its work through selective litigation, lobbying at the state and local level, and through public education and awareness of what the Bill of Rights means for the people of South Dakota.
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