Freeman Hrabowski III was 12 years old in 1963 when he was arrested and jailed for five days. He had participated with thousands of other students in the Children’s Crusade in Birmingham, Alabama. During the nonviolent protest, police dogs, water cannons, and police batons were used to disperse the children. Pictures of police using these harsh measures against child protesters helped catalyze President Kennedy’s proposal of the Civil Rights Act, which ended legalized segregation. In 1992, Hrabowski became president of the University of Maryland. He attributes his success partly to what he learned during the Children’s Crusade. 

A protest is an event where people gather to call for reform on an issue they feel strongly about. The goal of a protest is to call attention to the issue and hopefully force change. In recent years, large groups of protesters in the U.S. have gathered to protest issues such as immigration policy, corruption, and women’s rights. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees “the right of the people peaceably to assemble.” Many key events in United States history, including the American Revolution, were catalyzed by public protests. Researchers have found that the number of protests taking place has risen in recent decades and that young people are becoming more involved in protests.

Some parents take children along with them to protests to learn about their right as U.S. citizens to assemble and speak freely against injustices. Parents also say their children have the right to defend their beliefs. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a champion of nonviolence, told parents, “Don’t worry about your children; they’re going to be all right. Don’t hold them back if they want to go to jail, for they are doing a job not only for themselves, but for all of America and for all mankind.”

But others say that children do not belong at protests. Malcolm X was a civil rights leader who advocated for Black empowerment. He commented on the 1963 Children’s Crusade, “Real men don’t put their children on the firing line.” These critics feel that protesting is something only adults who understand the risks and goals should do. They argue that parents are placing their children in danger, since violence does sometimes break out, both from protesters and in the police response. For example, during the 2014 Ferguson protests, there were vandals who destroyed property, and police used tear gas, smoke, and armored vehicles to disperse protesters. 

Some people also worry that protesting in a large crowd will be scary for children. These critics suggest that, if children want to participate in calling for reform, parents should choose a safer activity. Children could make window signs to call attention to an issue or write letters to representatives and officials. Other people say kids might be fine at a protest but that it depends on the age of the child, the size of the protest, and what the protest is about.

What do you think? When parents bring children to protests, is it irresponsible because protests can be unsafe? Or is it responsible because it teaches children about civic duty?