An assembly is not just an event high school students look forward to because of shorter classes, but it is in the Constitution protecting citizens’ right to peacefully assemble to stand up for what they believe.

“The right to assemble or gather peacefully is a political right that the Founders considered vital to ensuring justice in government. Assembling peacefully demands that citizens obey laws and act with consideration and respect,” billofrightsinstitute’s website said.

Many people have exercised their right to assemble over the years. One very popular case is the Civil Rights Movement. With peaceful sit-ins to Rosa Parks not moving from her sea5t, the Civil rights movement did not use violence to bring about change.

More recent examples of the right to assemble include Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) pride parades in Chicago. Luke Crenshaw, senior, attended one of these parades with a pride youth group.

“There [was] such an amazing, accepting vibe from everyone,” Crenshaw said. ”When you’re walking in it and you look around, it makes you feel like because there are people hanging off buildings and packed on the sidewalks. It’s just unbelievable.”

Before the parade started, Crenshaw and her youth group were given necklaces and told to set up whatever they needed. They were also told not to walk outside of the barricades lining the streets.

Even though they were contained to inside the barricades, the right to assemble was showing its colors as people all around the street were showing their support for the LGBT community.

“What I remember most was looking up at all the buildings surrounding and seeing all the people hanging out of them cheering because we are the youth of the LGBT community,” Crenshaw said.

With the support of thousands of people, the LGBT pride parade in Chicago was just one example out many across the country to try and peacefully bring about change. There are also pride parades in San Diego, Dallas, Philadelphia, and many more cities.

Sam Sheynberg, senior, and also part of the LGBT community, has not gone to a pride parade, but she feels that everyone should exercise their right to assemble.

“I think everyone can and should [exercise their right] because it would be impossible to make any kind of change without saying your beliefs,” Sheynberg said. “It’s been proven throughout human history that the more people are willing to stand up and advocate for a common cause, the more likely that change they desire will be realized.”

Both Crenshaw and Sheynberg believe that students could peacefully assemble to bring about change, but Sheynberg believes that certain examples make students think they cannot assemble without consequences.

“I feel like every time a student tries to go against the norm or disagrees with the way something is done, they get put in detention or even suspended,” Sheynberg said. “I think that in order to make students [not scared], the school could show that it’s okay to not always agree with the socially accepted norm. Even if the school disagrees with them, it’s in their rights to protest or petition.”

Assembling can make a big difference in the lives of many to even just impact one person to bring about a change.

“[The pride parade] was so lively and fun and exciting and colorful,” Crenshaw said. “I wasn’t expecting to feel that much love in one place.”