“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.” — The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Throughout history, protests have been the catalyst behind pivotal social movements, exposing abuse and injustice, demanding accountability and encouraging hope for a better future.

The public’s ability to speak truth to power — protected by the First Amendment’s guarantees of free speech, the right to peaceably assemble and the right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances — paved the way for transformative moments in U.S. history, including the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963, the Anti-Vietnam War protest in 1969 and the Anti-Nuclear March in 1982. Each of these demonstrations helped shape the trajectory of our nation’s history.

This right was codified by the Framers of the Constitution, who understood the importance of allowing citizens to express dissent and hold the government accountable. It is, thus, deeply rooted in American history.

In the Declaration of Independence, the Founding Fathers justified their revolution against the tyrannical King George III, in part, on the grounds that he had repeatedly ignored petitions for redress of the colonists’ grievances.

But the principle is even older. Its origins date back as far as 1215, when the right to petition was first enshrined in the Magna Carta and later reaffirmed and expanded upon in the English Bill of Rights.

Centuries later, in its opinion in United States v. Cruikshank, the Supreme Court affirmed, “It is, and always has been, one of the attributes of citizenship under a free government.”

The First Amendment protects your right to express your opinion — even, and especially, if it’s unpopular.

That’s important, because history shows that many of the rights and protections Americans cherish today were once met with fierce resistance.

We were reminded of this truth at Saturday’s rally in Triangle Park, where Lois Day — who turns 87 this week — was among the protesters. As a young woman during the Civil Rights Movement, she participated in protests against segregated lunch counters in the South. Though many of the protesters were assaulted and arrested during these acts of civil disobedience, their actions had both an immediate and lasting impact. The protests drew national media attention and forced dining facilities to abandon their segregationist policies — a crucial step in the dismantling of Jim Crow.

At the time, they were harassed and heckled by white patrons — sometimes even spat on. Yet today, we cannot imagine a country with segregated lunch counters, pools or water fountains.

The intense reactions to our coverage of recent protests in Lock Haven serve as a powerful reminder of why the right to dissent must be safeguarded.

In many parts of the world, criticizing heads of state, legislatures or law enforcement can come with serious consequences — in some cases, death. When individuals are silenced and dissent is punished, corruption and the abuse of power are allowed to fester.

You won’t agree with every protest — and you shouldn’t have to. But every exercise of our constitutional civil rights helps preserve them for everyone.

The First Amendment is what protects the work we journalists do — providing citizens with the information they need to make informed decisions about policies that directly impact their lives. Without it, you wouldn’t be reading the paper in your hand or on your screen. And those same protections ensure your right to speak out, assemble and advocate for the changes you want to see when laws don’t align with your values.

And, we would remind you that this freedom is universal: You are welcome to express your opinions in a public venue just the same as these folks have been.

We find it remarkable that despite ample opportunities during the Biden presidency for residents to protest various unpopular actions, nobody locally took it upon themselves to organize the same way as is now being done under the Trump presidency.

This is a right, under the Constitution. That means it applies to us all. You may not — and likely will not — agree with what causes and beliefs others rally around.

That’s fine.

But when the shoe is on the other foot and the situation is reversed, you will certainly want to have access to the same right to express your opinions — even if you don’t use it.

Importantly, protest is not only about immediate change. They also serve important non-instrumental purposes. It matters to us, as individuals, whether we are complicit in actions or policies that conflict with our values. For those who witness their government acting in ways that contradict their moral beliefs, protest becomes a way to defend personal integrity. It’s also a way to publicly affirm what matters — both to ourselves and to others — a universal expression of our shared human need to stand for something.

We don’t expect everyone to march or hold a sign, but we do ask that you respect the right of others to peacefully advocate for the changes they believe in — regardless of whether you share their views. That freedom is, and always has been, at the heart of who we are — and who we want to be.