ATLANTA — In response to recent protests in Atlanta, across the nation, and in advance of protests and rallies this weekend, the ACLU of Georgia issues the following statement with concern about the State’s overreaching domestic terrorism law being used to quell dissent.
“The freedom to dissent without fear of government retribution is a vital part of any well-functioning democracy. Protesters in Georgia have every right to call attention to the injustices by the Trump administration including its trampling of immigrant rights, drastic cuts to Medicaid, attacks on transgender people, and general disregard of democratic norms,” said Christopher Bruce, Policy & Advocacy Director of the ACLU of Georgia. “Elected officials should not wield the State’s overreaching domestic terrorism law in an effort to discourage people from engaging in political protest and exercising their First Amendment rights.”
The ACLU of Georgia will continue to defend the rights of every person in our state to speak out, organize, and stand up for a better future — regardless of whether elected officials agree with their views. We launched Protest Ready Georgia to help all Georgians exercise their constitutional right to protest.