---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People have the right to protest - that's…"
description: "\"People have the right to protest - that's what democracy is all about. I have no problem with people exercising their democratic rights.\" — Condoleezza..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c83/condoleezza-rice-807_about_people-have-the-right-to-protest-that-s_3187201.jpg"
---

#  People have the right to protest - that's what democracy…

![“People have the right to protest - that's what democracy is all about. I have no problem with people exercising their democratic rights.” quote by Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c83/condoleezza-rice-807_about_people-have-the-right-to-protest-that-s_3187201.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c83/condoleezza-rice-807_about_people-have-the-right-to-protest-that-s_3187201.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c83/condoleezza-rice-807_about_people-have-the-right-to-protest-that-s_3187201.jpg)

> “People have the right to protest - that's what democracy is all about. I have no problem with people exercising their democratic rights.”

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Democracy depends on the right to protest; allowing dissent is essential to a free society.

**In simple terms:** Protest is a core democratic right.

Key Takeaway

Protect and respect the right to protest.

Themes

democracy civil rights political discourse

Mood

cautious reflective

Type

political ethical

When to use this quote

- political rallies
- social movements
- policy debates

Key Concepts

freedom of expression civic engagement

Questions to Reflect On

- How can societies balance protest with public safety?
- What responsibilities accompany protest rights?

A Different Perspective

Excessive protest can disrupt order; balance needed.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Democratic rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democratic-rights/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/)

## Related quotes

> [We are not exercising our democratic rights properly. We need to stop looking for solutions in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/we-are-not-exercising-our-democratic-rights-properly-we-need-to-stop/)

[Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/)

> [Liberty lives in protest and democracy prospers under conditions of change. When we travel about the world and come to a country whose newspapers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-patrick-moynihan/liberty-lives-in-protest-and-democracy-prospers-under-conditions-of/)

[Daniel Patrick Moynihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-patrick-moynihan/)

> [Democracy is about voting and it's about a majority vote. And it's time that we started exercising the Democratic process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-stabenow/democracy-is-about-voting-and-it-s-about-a-majority-vote-and-it-s/)

[Debbie Stabenow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-stabenow/)

> [Let us not despair but act. Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer but the right answer. Let us not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/let-us-not-despair-but-act-let-us-not-seek-the-republican-answer-or/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [If we desire a society without discrimination, then we must not discriminate against anyone in the process of building this society. If we desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bayard-rustin/if-we-desire-a-society-without-discrimination-then-we-must-not/)

[Bayard Rustin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bayard-rustin/)

> [Ours is a great nation, built upon both free enterprise and the free exercise of basic democratic rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-warnock/ours-is-a-great-nation-built-upon-both-free-enterprise-and-the-free/)

[Raphael Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-warnock/)

> [If you look at the origins of the postal service in the U.S., the founding fathers created it to protect democratic rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiva-ayyadurai/if-you-look-at-the-origins-of-the-postal-service-in-the-u-s-the/)

[Shiva Ayyadurai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiva-ayyadurai/)

> [Popular privileges are consistent with a state of society in which there is great inequality of position. Democratic rights, on the contrary, demand that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/popular-privileges-are-consistent-with-a-state-of-society-in-which/)

[Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/)

> [In its proper meaning equality before the law means the right to participate in the making of the laws by which one is governed,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/in-its-proper-meaning-equality-before-the-law-means-the-right-to/)

[Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/)

> [Conventions are, by nature, a party. I mean, that's why people become delegates. They come from all over the world to exercise their democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/conventions-are-by-nature-a-party-i-mean-that-s-why-people-become/)

[Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/)

> [We have to build movements in the face of trade retaliation on the basis of people's democratic rights, on the basis of an ancient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vandana-shiva/we-have-to-build-movements-in-the-face-of-trade-retaliation-on-the/)

[Vandana Shiva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vandana-shiva/)

> [We need to get a stable Afghanistan that can ensure the security of Americans, Europeans, and others on the one hand, but more fundamentally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashraf-ghani/we-need-to-get-a-stable-afghanistan-that-can-ensure-the-security-of/)

[Ashraf Ghani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashraf-ghani/)

> [Democracy is the common pursuit of mankind, and all countries must earnestly protect the democratic rights of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/democracy-is-the-common-pursuit-of-mankind-and-all-countries-must/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Being born in Cuba, a country where freedom of speech is non-existent, it's startling to observe how Venezuela, where I was happily raised, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-conchita-alonso/being-born-in-cuba-a-country-where-freedom-of-speech-is-non-existent/)

[Maria Conchita Alonso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-conchita-alonso/)

> [Any unarmed people are slaves, or are subject to slavery at any given moment. If the guns are taken out of the hands of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-newton/any-unarmed-people-are-slaves-or-are-subject-to-slavery-at-any-given/)

[Huey Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-newton/)

## More by Condoleezza Rice

> [The Iranian people have a proud past. They merit a great future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-iranian-people-have-a-proud-past-they-merit-a-great-future/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [It has been hard to muster the resources to support fledgling democracies and to intervene on behalf of the most desperate. The AIDS orphans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/it-has-been-hard-to-muster-the-resources-to-support-fledgling/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [We can't live true to our set of values unless American educational system is strong. I really believe that if we don't get that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/we-can-t-live-true-to-our-set-of-values-unless-american-educational/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [I remember at the time of 9/11 that there were women who went out of their way to escort Muslim women to grocery stores…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-remember-at-the-time-of-9-11-that-there-were-women-who-went-out-of/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [The first step for a leader is to be right with yourself. Integrity is the basis of leadership.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-first-step-for-a-leader-is-to-be-right-with-yourself-integrity-is/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [A lot is being done to bring additional protective measures, particularly the critical infrastructure locations around the United States, ... There is a very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/a-lot-is-being-done-to-bring-additional-protective-measures/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [You cannot be on one hand dedicated to peace and on the other dedicated to violence. Those two things are irreconcilable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/you-cannot-be-on-one-hand-dedicated-to-peace-and-on-the-other/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [I'm not personally fearful, but I look out, and there are a number of things that concern me, and I'm hopeful that we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-m-not-personally-fearful-but-i-look-out-and-there-are-a-number-of/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [ \[I'm\] very fortunate and blessed person who still has a lot of living to do. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-m-very-fortunate-and-blessed-person-who-still-has-a-lot-of-living/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [Football is like war. It's about taking territory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/football-is-like-war-it-s-about-taking-territory/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [I think there are plenty of men out there who are capable and accomplished in their own realm. You don't have to be in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-think-there-are-plenty-of-men-out-there-who-are-capable-and/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [I've always said as a political scientist that "culture" is what we use when we can't explain things. I think it's more about accessibility.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-ve-always-said-as-a-political-scientist-that-culture-is-what-we-use/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [I believed Afghanistan was always going to be hard. It's the fifth poorest country in the world. And when you fly over it, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-believed-afghanistan-was-always-going-to-be-hard-it-s-the-fifth/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [I'm very glad my mother didn't let me quit piano lessons at age 10. She said I wasn't old enough or good enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/i-m-very-glad-my-mother-didn-t-let-me-quit-piano-lessons-at-age-10/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

> [The idea the president of the United States was warned that Al-Qaeda was going to attack the United States and did nothing about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/the-idea-the-president-of-the-united-states-was-warned-that-al-qaeda/)

[Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

[Explore all 365 Condoleezza Rice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/)

## More About quotes

> [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/)

[Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/)

> [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/)

[Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/)

> [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/)

[Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/)

> [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/)

[Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/)

> [I write about presidents. That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/)

[Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/)

> [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/)

[Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/)

> [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/)

[Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/)

> [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/)

[Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/)

> [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/)

[Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/)

> [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/)

[Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/)

> [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/)

[Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/)

> [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/)

[Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/)

> [I read a couple of books about neuroscience and the relationship between the mind and the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-kinnaman/i-read-a-couple-of-books-about-neuroscience-and-the-relationship/)

[Joel Kinnaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-kinnaman/)

> [There are a lot of kids out there copying and distributing movies - not because they care about seeing the movies or sharing them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-perry-barlow/there-are-a-lot-of-kids-out-there-copying-and-distributing-movies-not/)

[John Perry Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-perry-barlow/)

> [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/)

[Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/)

Browse all 26,122 About quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "People have the right to protest - that's what democracy is all about. I have no problem with people exercising their democratic rights.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Condoleezza Rice"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/people-have-the-right-to-protest-that-s-what-democracy-is-all-about-i/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "About"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/people-have-the-right-to-protest-that-s-what-democracy-is-all-about-i/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c83/condoleezza-rice-807_about_people-have-the-right-to-protest-that-s_3187201.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c83/condoleezza-rice-807_about_people-have-the-right-to-protest-that-s_3187201.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c83/condoleezza-rice-807_about_people-have-the-right-to-protest-that-s_3187201.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“People have the right to protest - that's what democracy is all about. I have no problem with people…” — Condoleezza Rice",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Condoleezza Rice",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "People have the right to protest...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/people-have-the-right-to-protest-that-s-what-democracy-is-all-about-i/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/people-have-the-right-to-protest-that-s-what-democracy-is-all-about-i/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
