The right to assemble is recognized as a human right and protected in the First Amendment of the US Constitution under the clause, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."[1]
Widespread mass protest became a distinct characteristic of the late 20th and early 21st century American civic engagement, with the rate of mass protests rising exponentially since the mid 2010s thanks in part to the sudden and widespread availability of smartphones as well as the social media revolution allowing instant and widespread communication and planning, with each of the top ten attended protests occurring since 1970 and four of the top five occurring since the start of the Trump administration in 2017.
- ^ Andrew M., Winston (October 2014). "Right to Peaceful Assembly: United States". Library of Congress. Archived from the original on April 20, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2017.