As an international student or scholar, you might be wondering whether you are allowed to participate in a protest at Emory or at a location off campus.

Emory’s Respect for Open Expression Policy affirms the rights of community members to assemble and demonstrate peaceably while providing limits to activities that disrupt university operations or impede the rights of others. Because some activities, including protest and dissent, often create tension between groups and individuals, it is important for you to understand what is and is not permitted under the policy. Please read about the policy here.

The US has a long history and tradition of protesting and speaking out in public against injustices and political grievances. It is a very individual decision whether to participate in protest activity and we cannot provide specific advice regarding participation. In general, we can share that participating in peaceful protest would not impact your status as an international student or scholar at Emory. Concern arises when there are allegations of activities that violate criminal laws (ordinances or statutes) or university conduct policies during a protest, and that might be an unpredictable aspect of your decision to participate. However, generally, we would suggest that if a law enforcement official gives any instruction to end activities or leave the area, international students or scholars should comply with those instructions. It is our aim to keep international students and scholars safe during their time at Emory.

An arrest, even if criminal or civil charges are not filed or are dismissed, or a conduct code violation, could impact an international student’s or scholar’s future interaction with US immigration officials, and could negatively impact your immigration status and ability to enter or remain in the US. If you would like more in-depth information, we recommend that you consult an immigration attorney. If you were to be arrested, ISSS remains a resource for you for support and may be able to connect with others who could provide legal representation. Under the US legal system, you can obtain your own private counsel for any criminal case and for any related immigration issues. Alternatively, you may be able to request a public defender through the court system to handle your criminal defense, but you should still retain an immigration attorney as criminal attorneys are not always considering immediate and long-term immigration implications.

International students and scholars need to remember their purpose for being in the US under their particular immigration status. You can find the maintenance of status information on our website (for international students and international scholars). Adhering to University rules and codes of conduct is also a part of maintaining status.

Additional Support Resources

Emory offers a comprehensive range of supportive services and resources that are available to every member of the university community.