2025 Memorandum: Protect Protest

As we contend with a second Trump administration and the likelihood of mass protest to challenge the implementation of many of his most outrageous campaign promises, such as the mass deportation of immigrants, it is imperative that state legislators shore up basic First Amendment guarantees by codifying affirmative protections for protesters. Lawmakers must be proactive and quickly introduce and enact legislation that will make New York a state in which our core First Amendment rights are fully respected in principle and in practice. New York can meet this moment by removing or restricting law enforcement access to some of the most dangerous tools and tactics used to suppress protest activity.