Defending the right to political protest is fundamental to challenging the rise of white supremacism in the United States.

Emancipate NC is proud to coordinate a group of over 40 private attorneys who have volunteered to represent over 100 Black Lives Matter protesters pro bono in seven counties in North Carolina, including Wake, Durham, New Hanover, Person, Alamance, Rockingham, and Buncombe.

We make no distinction between “good” protesters and “bad” protesters.

At Emancipate NC, we understand that protest must rise “far above public inconvenience, annoyance, or unrest” to be unlawful. Terminiello v. City of Chicago, 337 U.S. 1, 4-5, 69 S. Ct. 894, 895-96, 93 L. Ed. 1131 (1949).

“Accordingly a function of free speech under our system of government is to invite dispute. It may indeed best serve its high purpose when it induces a condition of unrest, creates dissatisfaction with conditions as they are, or even stirs people to anger. Speech is often provocative and challenging. It may strike at prejudices and preconceptions and have profound unsettling effects as it presses for acceptance of an idea… There is no room under our Constitution for a more restrictive view.” Terminiello v. City of Chicago, 337 U.S. 1, 4-5, 69 S. Ct. 894, 895-96, 93 L. Ed. 1131 (1949).