The First Amendment protects the freedom of speech, religion, and press. It also protects the right to peacefully protest and to petition the government. But what does that really mean? Can you say whatever you want, whenever you want, wherever you want? No, it doesn't. And knowing the difference between what counts as free speech and what doesn't can help to protect your First Amendment rights whenever you exercise them. 

In S2E1, we cover exactly what this means, as it relates to organizing a protest. But let's start with the basics: There are many forms of free speech, including political, religious, advertising, obscene, offensive, etc. And some types are more protected than others. It's also important to know that the most protected type of speech is political speech. 

The federal government and individual states are also able to enforce what's known as "time, place, and manner restrictions" to free speech. But the amount of restrictions the government can put in place depends on how protected the type of speech is that's being used. 

How does this translate to protests? Well, the government can put a restriction on the time you host the event. They can also put limitations on where you can hold it. They can impose noise level limitations, cap the number of protesters that can attend, and even restrict the size or placement of physical signs used during the event. But — there are limitations to how many restrictions they can put into place. We go more into detail about this in this episode.

We also cover frequently asked questions about protesting, including:

• First Amendment basics
• Do you need a permit to organize a protest?
• Where do you file for a permit to organize a protest, if necessary?
• Where's the safest place to host a protest?
• Can you record police during a protest?
• What are the reasons you can be detained by police at a protest?
• What should you do if you're detained by police at a protest?
• What do you do if your rights are violated during a protest?

Find resources for protesters in our Show Memo: 

• What constitutes free speech, as outlined by the First Amendment
• What you need to know about audio recordings taken during a protest
• ACLU recommendations on how to protect your rights as a protester
• Electronic Frontier Foundation recommendations regarding police searches

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