Many teens have been inspired to protest over the course of the Hawaii Superferry debate. For those of you who are so inclined, here are a few facts about your rights that are good to know when publicly voicing your opinion.

If you attend a public school, it is your right to display articles of clothing protesting something as long as they do not interfere with regular school operation. This includes staying within the dress code. If your school has a uniform, you have to wear it.

At a private school, your first amendment rights actually do not apply, because you are under something called contract law. If you don’t follow the rules of the contract you signed when you enrolled, it’s not illegal, but you could face expulsion. Check your student handbook or ask a teacher for more information.

In general, your rights are as follows: you have the right to say anything you want, as long as it isn’t defamation, slander, libel, (speech or writing about someone, that can’t be proven). Also, it can’t be obscene (inappropriate words or gestures or insults), hate speech, or perjury (lying in court).

In addition, you have the right to assembly. This means you and other people who share your interests have the right to gather together in groups, clubs, or organizations, and protest. However, this right is sometimes overruled by the right of the police to disperse a crowd that endangers public safety, in order to prevent rioting.

With the Superferry, there was the question of whether or not it was legal to protest by physically blocking the ferry. Originally, the ferry’s security zone extended 100 yards out from the vessel. Anyone in this moving zone was breaking the law. They would have had to get out of the way if the zone was coming towards them. The Coast Guard then expanded the zone to all of Nawiliwili harbor except for Kalapaki bay. The ferry so far hasn’t returned to utilize this new zone, but if it does, anyone who enters the zone when the Superferry is in the harbor can be arrested.

The final restriction on the public when protesting is that you cannot injure or threaten an enforcement officer. This means anything from hitting them to calling them out to fight. However, if you haven’t done anything illegal to provoke them and they physically harm you, you can claim police brutality.

If you feel that peacefully protesting within the law is not enough, take up the issue with a local lawyer, lawmaker or government representative. As you can see from the Superferry decision on Maui, the court system can be very powerful when used correctly.

Empowered with this knowledge, you can safely and legally support your opinions and maybe even help to change the world.