Arizona Protest Laws

According to the constitution, all citizens of the United States of America have the right to protest. The first amendment states that, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

In Arizona, the senate has voted that any protester should be fined or jailed even while during peaceful protest. There have been claims of people being paid to protest. Therefore, even if there is no violence, police officers are forced, by law, to arrest anybody protesting or anyone that could be.

In addition to the law, the police are also able to arrest those planning a protest. Any organization will most likely have an officer or two going undercover to the meeting. The idea of arresting someone for protesting and standing up for what they believe in is very similar to what happened to MLK as well. Martin Luther King was arrested a number of times for boycotting and protesting. This is similar to the Arizona laws because innocent protests are being shut down and citizens are being fined and put in jail for our given right.