‘Our Silence Will Not Protect Us’: New Report Tracks Growing Assault on Protest Rights

July 24, 2025

The Advancement Project has released a report titled "Our Silence Will Not Protect Us: Tracking Recent Trends in Anti-Protest Laws," highlighting how 103 bills criminalizing protest have been introduced or passed since January 2024, threatening First Amendment rights across the United States. These laws redefine constitutionally protected activities as criminal conduct, targeting movements led by marginalized communities through increased penalties, restrictions on common protest behaviors, and limitations on where demonstrations can occur. According to Carmen Daugherty, the organization's deputy executive director, these measures represent a coordinated backlash against dissent that threatens democracy itself.

Who is affected

People of color and other marginalized communities who lead social movements
Immigrant protesters whose visa status may be threatened
College students participating in campus protests (with nearly 2,000 cases of visa revocation)
Black and brown communities subject to selective enforcement and racial profiling
Protesters in areas with large populations of people of color
International communities influenced by U.S. policy trends

What action is being taken

The Advancement Project is publishing reports to document and raise awareness about anti-protest laws
Civil rights organizations are advocating for freedom of speech and assembly
Protesters are continuing to organize despite increased risks and penalties
Advocacy experts are encouraging people to build supportive networks and know their rights
Organizations like Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI) are fighting against these restrictions

Why it matters

These laws threaten constitutionally protected First Amendment rights
The measures represent a shift toward authoritarianism and control
Selective enforcement reinforces patterns of racial profiling
The laws normalize silencing citizens' needs and critiques of government
U.S. influence means these trends could encourage rights violations globally
Protests have historically been essential to social change in America

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer