Protest Laws

Disorderly Conduct

Curfew Violations

Rioting

Unlawful Assembly

Damage to Property

Resisting Arrest

Obstruction of Justice

Fleeing the Police

Looting

Were you arrested after participating in a protest in Minnesota?

Contact our experienced protesting lawyer for a free, confidential consultation today at 612-910-2104, or by clicking here.

Protesting can be a fundamental American right. More and more frequently, however, individuals find themselves arrested, charged, or cited due to their participation in what was intended to be a peaceful, legal protest or demonstration. From shutting down the I-35W bridge to standing on the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol, protesters find themselves charged with sometimes serious criminal offenses that have the potential to carry stiff sentences and lifelong consequences. These include jail, prison, fines, fees, probation or other court supervision, mandatory abstinence from drugs or alcohol, restitution for damaged property—not including the collateral consequences to employment, housing, driving privileges, professional licensing, and more.

Often, protesters are charged or issued citations simply for being a part of the larger crowd, despite that only one or two ‘bad eggs’ committed any sort of criminal acts. Nevertheless, if you’ve been formally charged with a crime, the case often will not simply go away. A prosecutor might ultimately agree to dismiss the charges or offer a non-conviction disposition, or a judge may agree the charges are unreasonable, but the charges themselves will go nowhere if you do not act in your own defense.

There are significant defenses to protesting-related charges in Minnesota.

These defenses range from statutory defenses, to constitutional defenses rooted in First Amendment jurisprudence, and if they are successfully raised, they could result in the dismissal of charges or significantly reduced consequences. There are also strength-in-numbers defenses in terms of launching unified defenses for protesting-related charges. Where tens or hundreds of individuals are cited for the same allegedly criminal offense (such as a curfew violation), the sheer volume of time and effort necessary for the state to secure convictions would bring the justice system to a grinding halt if each defendant opted to exercise their full panoply of rights.

What are common protesting charges?

To be clear, protesting is in and of itself not a crime. The actions some take while protesting, however, can become criminal. Even peaceful, organized protesting can be deemed to be against the law, depending on the state’s imposition of valid time/place/manner restrictions. A common misconception is that the freedom of speech and assembly permits people to demonstrate wherever they want, whenever they want. From a legal perspective, this is simply not the case.

Common protesting charges include: disorderly conduct, curfew violations, rioting, unlawful assembly, damage to property, resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, fleeing the police, looting, theft, and other misdemeanors and felonies.

If you or someone you know were arrested during a protest, following a protest, or while planning some form of organized demonstration, call the firm today to have your questions answered. Our firm will:

• Review the allegations against you, including police reports, body camera footage, security camera footage, and the statements of others;

• Clearly explain all of your legal rights and options;

• Investigate the case—gathering evidence to use in your defense; and

• Take immediate action to protect your rights and minimize any consequences.