--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You are free to protest peacefully, but…" description: "\"You are free to protest peacefully, but the minute you use violence and attack police, all bets are off.\" — Miranda Devine" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/miranda-devine-5684_attack_you-are-free-to-protest-peacefully-but-t_2606173.jpg" --- # You are free to protest peacefully, but the minute you use… ![“You are free to protest peacefully, but the minute you use violence and attack police, all bets are off.” quote by Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/miranda-devine-5684_attack_you-are-free-to-protest-peacefully-but-t_2606173.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/miranda-devine-5684_attack_you-are-free-to-protest-peacefully-but-t_2606173.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b78/miranda-devine-5684_attack_you-are-free-to-protest-peacefully-but-t_2606173.jpg) > “You are free to protest peacefully, but the minute you use violence and attack police, all bets are off.” [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Peaceful protest is acceptable, but violence null the cause and changes the stakes. **In simple terms:** Violence invalidates protest. Key Takeaway Avoid violent tactics. Themes protest peace violence Mood serious concerned Type political ethical When to use this quote - activism - public policy - social movements - legal consequences Key Concepts civil disobedience law enforcement Questions to Reflect On - When is protest justified? - How can movements stay peaceful? A Different Perspective Non‑violent protest can still be suppressed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attack/) [Attack Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attack-police-1987884/) [Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) [Free Protest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-protest-1328953/) [Police](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/police/) [Protest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protest/) [Protest Peacefully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protest-peacefully-1987883/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) [Violence Attack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence-attack-1987885/) ## Related quotes > [You know in democracy you can protest peacefully and I'm sure you know it will have at least some kind of impact. You need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehbooba-mufti/you-know-in-democracy-you-can-protest-peacefully-and-i-m-sure-you/) [Mehbooba Mufti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehbooba-mufti/) > [People have a right to protest peacefully, but there's absolutely no excuse for anyone to be conducting a campaign of intimidation that may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-soutphommasane/people-have-a-right-to-protest-peacefully-but-there-s-absolutely-no/) [Tim Soutphommasane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-soutphommasane/) > [I never saw anything more like real warfare in my life - only the attack was all on one side. The police, in spite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-crane/i-never-saw-anything-more-like-real-warfare-in-my-life-only-the/) [Walter Crane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-crane/) > [This is America. Anyone is free to protest about anything they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-haley/this-is-america-anyone-is-free-to-protest-about-anything-they-want/) [Nikki Haley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-haley/) > [Crime and violence is an attack on the poor and will never be accepted in a Trump administration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/crime-and-violence-is-an-attack-on-the-poor-and-will-never-be/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I was stricken by news and television pictures coming from the United States this morning. It is impossible to fully comprehend the evil that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-chretien/i-was-stricken-by-news-and-television-pictures-coming-from-the-united/) [Jean Chretien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-chretien/) > [You can protest, you can protest peacefully, but keep things civil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-soutphommasane/you-can-protest-you-can-protest-peacefully-but-keep-things-civil/) [Tim Soutphommasane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-soutphommasane/) > [We do not condone violence, and law enforcement will and has responded to acts of violence when people do not honor their freedom to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/we-do-not-condone-violence-and-law-enforcement-will-and-has-responded/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [There might be a small minority which does not protest peacefully. But the majority does it. And if you then fire with tear gas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/weston-mckennie/there-might-be-a-small-minority-which-does-not-protest-peacefully-but/) [Weston McKennie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/weston-mckennie/) > [“Every American should feel free to express an informed opinion—to protest peacefully, to convey frustration and even anger in a constructive way. That’s what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/historica-press/every-american-should-feel-free-to-express-an-informed-opinion-to/) [Historica Press](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/historica-press/) > [The best way to counter-attack a hater is to make it blatantly obvious that their attack has had no impact on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/the-best-way-to-counter-attack-a-hater-is-to-make-it-blatantly/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [It was both necessary and desirable for us to be so strong at sea that no Sea Power could attack us without risk, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernhard-von-bulow/it-was-both-necessary-and-desirable-for-us-to-be-so-strong-at-sea/) [Bernhard von Bulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernhard-von-bulow/) > [When I hit bottom, I can attack the problem and get to where I want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/when-i-hit-bottom-i-can-attack-the-problem-and-get-to-where-i-want-to/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [“THE UNFORGIVEN Tell me if you've ever had to deal with these kinds of people: The kind who take and don't give. The kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-unforgiven-tell-me-if-you-ve-ever-had-to-deal-with-these-kinds-of/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) ## More by Miranda Devine > [Trump's enduring appeal is a resource to be harnessed by the Republican Party, not a burden to be jettisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/trump-s-enduring-appeal-is-a-resource-to-be-harnessed-by-the/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) > [It's never too late to try authenticity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/it-s-never-too-late-to-try-authenticity/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) > [Fraud is corrosive, but so is claiming fraud where there is none.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/fraud-is-corrosive-but-so-is-claiming-fraud-where-there-is-none/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) > [AOC has proven that she is unfit to hold public office. She is a grandstanding activist who refuses to grow up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/aoc-has-proven-that-she-is-unfit-to-hold-public-office-she-is-a/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) > [The Lincoln Project is the brainchild of embittered former GOP grifters who failed to anticipate the Trump phenomenon and were not talented enough to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/the-lincoln-project-is-the-brainchild-of-embittered-former-gop/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) > [Operation Warp Speed should fill us with pride about American prowess and ingenuity. It is a showcase of our scientific, military and industrial might.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/operation-warp-speed-should-fill-us-with-pride-about-american-prowess/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) > [It's Never Trumpers who deserve the most scorn, especially the inadequates from the Lincoln Project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/it-s-never-trumpers-who-deserve-the-most-scorn-especially-the/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) > [Only a fool pokes a mama bear, but that's Merrick Garland for you. The attorney general thought to be such a moderate that 20…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/only-a-fool-pokes-a-mama-bear-but-that-s-merrick-garland-for-you-the/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) > [What is it with Democrats and their hostility to schools that offer poor minority kids the best ticket out of generational poverty and disadvantage?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/what-is-it-with-democrats-and-their-hostility-to-schools-that-offer/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) > [If the federal government is intent on keeping the southern border open and refuses to notify states when it dumps a new bunch of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/if-the-federal-government-is-intent-on-keeping-the-southern-border/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) > [That's the one positive thing to have come out of remote learning: Parents are now more aware of the shenanigans in the classroom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/that-s-the-one-positive-thing-to-have-come-out-of-remote-learning/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) > [If anyone can pull off a long-shot win against Gov. Phil Murphy, it's Jack Ciattarelli, a former state legislator and small-business owner, with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/if-anyone-can-pull-off-a-long-shot-win-against-gov-phil-murphy-it-s/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) > [For all his awesome power, Garland has met a force greater than his weaponized Department of Justice: the love of parents for their children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/for-all-his-awesome-power-garland-has-met-a-force-greater-than-his/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) > [The speaker's role is supposed to be revered, but Pelosi is so hooked on hatred and spite, she brings all of Congress into disrepute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/the-speaker-s-role-is-supposed-to-be-revered-but-pelosi-is-so-hooked/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) > [The U.S. system of court-appointed guardians originally was intended to protect the vulnerable elderly and incapacitated, but in some cases, it has become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/the-u-s-system-of-court-appointed-guardians-originally-was-intended/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) [Explore all 100 Miranda Devine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) ## More Attack quotes > [British Forces should be in a position to give back in a ten fold measure any attack that the Germans may attempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-banting/british-forces-should-be-in-a-position-to-give-back-in-a-ten-fold/) [Frederick Banting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-banting/) > [“THE UNFORGIVEN Tell me if you've ever had to deal with these kinds of people: The kind who take and don't give. The kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-unforgiven-tell-me-if-you-ve-ever-had-to-deal-with-these-kinds-of/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [When I hit bottom, I can attack the problem and get to where I want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-rodman/when-i-hit-bottom-i-can-attack-the-problem-and-get-to-where-i-want-to/) [Dennis Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-rodman/) > [It was both necessary and desirable for us to be so strong at sea that no Sea Power could attack us without risk, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernhard-von-bulow/it-was-both-necessary-and-desirable-for-us-to-be-so-strong-at-sea/) [Bernhard von Bulow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernhard-von-bulow/) > [The best way to counter-attack a hater is to make it blatantly obvious that their attack has had no impact on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/the-best-way-to-counter-attack-a-hater-is-to-make-it-blatantly/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [President Obama has never summarized the Obama Doctrine with such clarity, but here is what it would look like: 'I will undertake any military…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/president-obama-has-never-summarized-the-obama-doctrine-with-such/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [Everything has got a place in my house. If something is moved I get a panic attack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rylan-clark-neal/everything-has-got-a-place-in-my-house-if-something-is-moved-i-get-a/) [Rylan Clark-Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rylan-clark-neal/) > [I mean, it's not just the rappers, you know what i'm saying? People want to attack anybody that's a large figure, you know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-notorious-b-i-g/i-mean-it-s-not-just-the-rappers-you-know-what-i-m-saying-people-want/) [The Notorious B.I.G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-notorious-b-i-g/) > [Sometimes when you take a tough action against one side in the conflict, they see you as part of the conflict and they attack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-annan/sometimes-when-you-take-a-tough-action-against-one-side-in-the/) [Kofi Annan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-annan/) > [“Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/hence-when-able-to-attack-we-must-seem-unable-when-using-our-forces/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Free speech has a very small constituency on the modern campus, particularly if the speaker under attack is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-leo/free-speech-has-a-very-small-constituency-on-the-modern-campus/) [John Leo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-leo/) > [Daniil is a player who will not give you many chances to attack. If I have enough power and choose the right moment, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrey-rublev/daniil-is-a-player-who-will-not-give-you-many-chances-to-attack-if-i/) [Andrey Rublev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrey-rublev/) > [Distributed ledgers are inherently harder to attack because instead of a single database, there are multiple shared copies of the same database, so a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-walport/distributed-ledgers-are-inherently-harder-to-attack-because-instead/) [Mark Walport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-walport/) > [Attack life. 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