12.7 Protests and Demonstrations

MIT has a long history of creative expression on campus, and the Institute welcomes the free exchange of ideas, robust debate and dissent, and peaceful protests and demonstrations. As stated in the MIT Statement on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom: “We believe that a commitment to freedom of expression is integral to our mission and community. At the same time, we deeply value a culture of civility, mutual respect, and compassion alongside the robust exchange of views.” 

This policy sets forth MIT’s rules for organizing and conducting vigils, protests, and similar demonstrations on the MIT campus that express dissent or support for a cause (collectively referred to below as “Demonstrations”). These “time, place, and manner” rules apply equally regardless of the viewpoint being expressed, and are intended to allow for responsible free expression, to promote the Institute’s academic and scholarly activities, to support the safety of our community, and to ensure the continuous operation of Institute events, programs, education, research, administration, and other activities (collectively, “Essential Institute Activities”). Nothing in this policy should be interpreted, applied, or enforced to interfere with, restrain, or coerce MIT employees in the exercise of their rights to engage in protected, concerted activity under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act.

Only MIT community members may organize Demonstrations on campus. This includes individual faculty, staff, and students, and “Institute Groups” (defined as Departments, Labs, Centers, or Institutes (DLCIs), recognized student organizations, and employee unions). Non-MIT community members may not organize Demonstrations on campus but may participate in them provided they comply with this and all other MIT policies. MIT community members or Institute Groups may not organize Demonstrations on campus as a “front” for non-MIT community members or groups.

12.7.1 Procedures for Planning Demonstrations on the MIT Campus

Individuals or Institute Groups planning to organize a Demonstration on campus must contact demonstration-planning@mit.edu at least three working days in advance to better understand MIT’s policies, rules, and guidelines that pertain to Demonstrations, including those described below, and to ensure that the Demonstration is carried out safely and without disruption of Essential Institute Activities. This email address includes staff from the Student Organizations, Leadership and Engagement Office (SOLE) and the Office of Emergency Management. Engaging in good faith with the staff responding to this email address is the most important step in planning any Demonstration.  

Individuals who wish to organize small Demonstrations consisting of fewer than five people, which they reasonably and in good faith believe are unlikely to cause any disruption of Essential Institute Activities, are not required to contact demonstration-planning@mit.edu in advance, although they are still strongly encouraged to do so. Such small Demonstrations must otherwise comply with all aspects of this policy.

Those planning Demonstrations must also review the Event Planning and Space Use Guide and register the Demonstration if required. The Institute Group organizing a Demonstration that meets the definition of an event that must be registered (for purposes of this policy, an “Event”) must reserve space through Institute Events or the Campus Activities Complex and then register via the Event Planning tab on Atlas at least three business days in advance. Space may also be reserved for Demonstrations that do not meet the Event criteria. Note that only Institute Groups, not individuals, may reserve space on the MIT campus.

To minimize the disruption of Essential Institute Activities, the following preferred locations may be reserved for Demonstrations, subject to the other requirements of this policy: the Stratton Student Center Plaza, the Stata Amphitheater, Kresge Oval, McDermott Court, and the northwest or southeast areas of Hockfield Court. Individuals or Institute Groups who organize Demonstrations can discuss with the staff who respond to demonstration-planning@mit.edu whether other campus locations may be suitable for a particular Demonstration.

12.7.2 Specific Rules for Planning Demonstrations on the MIT Campus

MIT prohibits disorderly conduct on campus, including in connection with Demonstrations. Disorderly conduct is behavior that disrupts the peace or interferes with the normal operation of the Institute or Institute-sponsored activities. It includes making unreasonable noise, disrupting a lawful meeting, obstructing pedestrian or vehicle traffic, or creating a hazardous situation. Whether behavior is considered disorderly may depend on factors such as time and location. For example, sound amplification or shouting outside an office or a classroom is usually not permitted, whereas sound amplification at a registered, outdoor event may be appropriate.

Demonstrations may not disrupt Essential Institute Activities, nor may they block or obstruct access to offices, classrooms, hallways, doorways, sidewalks, walkways, roads, or other forms of ingress/egress into and out of MIT facilities. 

MIT prohibits improper use of Institute property. Space is a shared resource. Unauthorized space takeovers are prohibited anywhere on campus, both indoors and outdoors. Unauthorized encampments and similar activities that unilaterally occupy MIT spaces are subject to immediate removal without notice. Associated tents, signage, and other property are subject to disposal without notice or compensation.

Individuals and Institute Groups participating in Demonstrations may not erect structures on MIT property unless prior approval is received from staff who respond to demonstration-planning@mit.edu. Any such structure or similar object erected without permission is subject to immediate removal and disposal by the Institute without notice or compensation. Defacing or destroying such structures or objects is not a permissible form of counterprotest and is prohibited. Graffiti and other damage or destruction of Institute property is always prohibited at MIT, and may result in referral to law enforcement.

Sound amplification at Demonstrations, including through the use of speakers and bullhorns, is not allowed unless prior approval is received from staff who respond to demonstration-planning@mit.edu. 

All individuals and Institute Groups organizing or participating in Demonstrations on campus must comply with the law and adhere to all existing MIT policies, including those listed below. Individuals or Institute Groups who organize Demonstrations, including individual leaders of Institute Groups, will be responsible for ensuring compliance, including by non-MIT participants, and will be held accountable for any violations.

• MIT policies on Harassment (Section 9.5), Nondiscrimination (Section 9.3), Non-Retaliation (Section 9.7), Violence against Community Members (Section 9.6, which includes threats), Personal Privacy (Section 11.2, which may in certain circumstances apply to doxing), Intellectual Property (Section 13.1), and student policies in the Mind and Hand Book all apply in the context of Demonstrations. MIT also encourages members of the community to be respectful (see Section 9.2) of others, even those with whom they disagree, and to consider the impact of their actions on fellow community members when participating in Demonstrations.
• Other facilities and space-related policies apply to Demonstrations, including, as applicable, Section 12.5 Use of Facilities, Section 12.6 Bulletin Boards, Postering, and Display Spaces, policies outlined in the Student Organization Handbook, rules established by the Institute Events Office, rules related to tabling to promote activities and services, and the MITnet Rules of Use.
• Demonstrations are also subject to MIT’s Campus Visitor Guidelines, including rules around invitations to campus speakers. Invited speakers are free to express their views, even if controversial. Dissenting members of the community may not disrupt a speaker’s ability to speak or attendees’ ability to attend or hear the speaker. Individuals who interrupt or disrupt a speaker may be removed from the talk.

Participants in Demonstrations, including any counter-protesters, are required to follow all directives from Institute personnel, including the MIT Police. This includes complying with requests to provide identification, disband a Demonstration, or disperse from a campus location. Participants may not obstruct, interfere with, intimidate, or harass Institute personnel in the performance of their normal duties and activities, including in their efforts to enforce these rules. 

12.7.3 Referrals for Disciplinary Action

Failure to comply with this policy, especially repeat violations, may result in referral to the Committee on Discipline (for students) or to MIT Human Resources (for employees) for disciplinary action, or intervention (including arrest) by law enforcement, including the MIT Police. Individuals or Institute Groups who organize Demonstrations, including individual leaders of Institute Groups, may also be held accountable for the actions of non-MIT community members who participate in the Demonstrations they organize. When referral for disciplinary action occurs, including for small Demonstrations as described above, the individual’s or group’s prior engagement with demonstration-planning@mit.edu and participation in productive discussions is likely to be viewed as a sign of good faith, and may be considered a mitigating circumstance in the disciplinary process.