Pro-Palestinian protests are nothing new on college campuses, and the University of Michigan regularly made headlines when the protests began. School administrators dismantled encampments and doled out discipline to student protestors, leading to a group of pro-Palestinian protestors winning the student government election.

As a new school year begins, students across the country are nervous about disciplinary action for standing up for their beliefs. If your protest activities cause trouble for you as a college student, the Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team can help. Call us at 888-535-3686 or fill out our online form, and we'll be in touch.

The Shut It Down Party

As students returned to the University of Michigan, they faced new challenges. The new student government, led by members of the pro-Palestinian Shut It Down party, was following through on its campaign promise to withhold funding for student activities until the university divested funds from companies that profit from the Israeli war.

But the move was in direct response to the protest shutdowns that happened the previous spring. Students were penalized for standing up for their beliefs, including arrests. The school also issued a draft of a new disruptive activity policy that ruffled feathers. In attempting to prioritize a safe environment for learning, the school had many students feeling their rights had been ignored.

Your Right to Protest

College campuses have a long history of protests, as a place where young adults typically become aware of political issues for the first time. Schools tend to support students' rights to protest as long as activities don't impact student and faculty safety.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), you have the right to protest as long as you don't violate the school's ability to function. The school can discipline you for disrupting the learning environment, but “disruptive” can be subjective. A school cannot punish you for taking what administrators see as an undesirable position on an issue.

Limits on School Disciplinary Action

There's a fine line between violating rules and taking a disagreeable position. A school can discipline you for missing or disrupting class with your protests, for instance, but it can't arbitrarily discipline a student who takes one side of a political issue while letting students on the other side slide.

The same goes for university dress codes. A school can pass a universal “no hats” policy and enforce it, but a school can't disallow hats with specific messages, according to the ACLU. Best practices are to pay close attention to your school's code of conduct so that you can stay on the safe side of the rules while still asserting your beliefs.

Legal Help with Student Issues

Protests can be a great way for students to get politically involved, but they come with risks. If you feel your right to protest was violated by your school, an attorney can help.

The Lento Law Firm Student Defense Team has experience in helping students who feel they've been disciplined unjustly. If you feel your rights have been stifled, we can help. Give us a call at 888-535-3686 or fill out our confidential online form and we'll be in touch.