There is nothing more fundamentally American than protesting injustice. Protest is how our nation began, protest is how our rights were secured, and protest is the very foundation of a healthy democracy.  

The right to peacefully protest and express dissent against the government is enshrined in the US Constitution. When the government attacks that right, they attack the core of our democracy. 

Two months ago, the League of Women Voters of the United States took the unprecedented step of declaring a “constitutional crisis.” In response to the ignoring of federal court orders, the unprecedented deployment of federal troops to protests, and inhumane immigration raids, the people are peacefully making their voices heard all across the country — in a fundamentally American display of protest. 

The League of Women Voters of South Carolina affirms the right to peaceful protest and calls upon our state government, local officials. and all South Carolinians to respect those who raise their voices and everyone's First Amendment rights.

-- Joint statement from the League of Women Voter of the United States and the League of Women Voters of South Carolina