Every week, peaceful demonstrators gather on pedestrian bridges in Michigan to exercise a fundamental right: freedom of speech. They hold signs. They raise their voices. They speak directly to drivers below. Now, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) wants to make this form of protest a crime.

Under new proposed rules, Michiganders would be banned from protesting, distributing literature, or even holding signs on MDOT property—including pedestrian overpasses, rest areas, and carpool lots—unless they first obtain official permission. Violators could face misdemeanor charges.

This is a dangerous overreach.

The proposed restrictions don’t just target safety issues—they would effectively silence spontaneous protest and grassroots organizing. Permits would only be issued to city, village, or township governments, not individuals or community groups. In other words, you could be fined or arrested simply for holding a political sign over a highway, even if you’re standing peacefully and safely on a public bridge.

These rules would give the state broad power to decide who gets to protest and where, undermining free expression and civic participation. That’s not what democracy looks like.

We recognize the need for public safety, but this is not the solution. Michigan already has laws in place to prevent dangerous or obstructive behavior. There’s no need to criminalize peaceful protest just because it’s visible and effective.

We call on MDOT and Michigan’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules to reject these proposed changes and protect the First Amendment rights of all residents. The answer to discomfort with protest is not censorship—it’s dialogue. Let’s keep Michigan a place where free speech thrives, not one where it’s regulated out of reach.

Add your name to defend free speech and stop the crackdown on peaceful protest in Michigan.

Photo: Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com