why is silently protesting protected under the first amendment

Silently protesting is protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution because the First Amendment guarantees the right to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly. Silent protests, such as kneeling during the national anthem or holding signs without vocalizing opinions, are considered forms of expression and fall within the broader category of symbolic speech.

The First Amendment states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Silent protests are a peaceful means of expressing dissent, opinions, or grievances, and they are protected as a fundamental aspect of free speech and assembly rights in the United States. The Supreme Court has consistently affirmed the protection of non-verbal expression as part of the broader constitutional guarantee of the freedom of speech.