On January 21st, 2017 men and women around the world stood together to protest a common cause. As of now, 673 marches have taken place in order to support the mission that the initial march, Women's March on Washington, upholds. No matter what side of the issue you stand on, one thing is certain: These marches provide an excellent example of what it means to peacefully protest.
The American Civil Liberties Union states that the freedom to protest peacefully falls under First Amendment guidelines, allowing individuals to address their concerns in a manner that is both civil and public. This gives people the right to show their concerns without waiting for policymakers to take up the issue. The Supreme Court of the United States has held to that standard, protecting protests as long as the "peaceful" aspect remains intact. The First Amendment does not provide the right to conduct an assembly at which there is clear and present danger of riot, disorder, or other immediate threats to public safety or order.
While rioters shattered windows and caused chaos on Inauguration Day, the women's marches abided by the standards of peaceful assembly. The Women's March on Washington went through the day with 500,000 participants and zero arrests. Sister marches, occurring on a large scale in New York, Los Angelos, and Chicago, saw the same results. Law enforcement was present to assure the peace was kept -- for both protestors and opposing parties.
The Women's March initiative showed the public what it means to protest peacefully -- those ladies (gents, you too) did it right. With celebrities such as Scarlett Johansson acting as influencers and backing the cause with passionate speeches, live music set up for the time spent waiting, and an outstanding amount of organization by volunteers, these marches were planned, respectable, and fully protected by law. From a traditional campaign standpoint, they followed all the rules and were able to provide an open discussion in the public eye.
While social media has flooded with outrage, unity, and a general sense of debate, the important thing to take away from this event is the example it has set. Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike all have the same right to protest in this manner. In a society where violence is often the first action taken, the women's marches are a breath of fresh air.
Watch the full coverage of the Women's March on Washington here.
