UIS Police Department Manual of Conduct on Demonstrations, Protests, Strikes, and Labor Disputes

This material is provided to the parties involved in demonstrations, protests, strikes and labor disputes by the UIS Police Department as guidelines to insure the protection of rights of all citizens.

By seeking the cooperation of the parties involved, tensions may be reduced and self-discipline encouraged so that the parties may police their own conduct.

UIS Police Department Role

Demonstrations, protests, strikes and labor disputes are not violations of the law. It is the illegal acts which sometimes arise from such activities which are the concern of the police. The UIS Police Department will at all times remain impartial regarding the parties and issues involved and by taking appropriate action whenever criminal violations are observed or reported.

The Department seeks to minimize criminal violations connected with demonstrations, protests, strikes and labor disputes by providing guidelines for the conduct of the parties. The following manual contains guidelines which emphasize that the use of public sidewalks and roadways, free access to public places, and the rights of persons to enter and leave private premises, are to be preserved. In cases where there is a denial of those rights, the Department will take prompt and impartial police action.

Demonstrations, protests, strikes and labor disputes it is not the function of the Police Department to deal with the issues involved; rather it is the role of the Police Department to protect the rights of the public and of the disputants by enforcing the law and maintaining order.

Guidelines for Conduct

The following guidelines or rules of conduct will be enforced by the Department and must be observed by those parties involved in demonstrations, protests, strikes, and labor disputes generally.

  1. Demonstrations, protests, strikes and/or labor disputes will form on sidewalks and will confine themselves to the outside or curbside of the sidewalk so as not to obstruct the passage of anyone wishing to pass along the sidewalk.
  2. Demonstrations, protests, strikes and/or labor disputes will not be conducted along streets or roads so as to hinder, obstruct or delay traffic, or cause a hazard to traffic.
  3. When a demonstration, protest, strike and/or labor dispute line becomes unruly it becomes a mob and as such is subject to arrest. A mob consists of two or more persons acting together to commit an unlawful act.
  4. People working in, or having any business with a place being demonstrated, protested, strike and/or labor disputed have a right to pass freely into or out of such place and may do so without being impeded, stopped, or threatened with bodily harm. Anyone desiring to take merchandise in or out of a place where there is a labor controversy or protest may do so without being impeded, stopped or threatened with bodily harm.
  5. Demonstrators, protestors, strikers and/or labor disputers may not, in any way, block a door passageway, driveway, cross­ walk or other entrance or exit to a place being picketed.  Demonstrators, protestors, strikers and/or labor disputers may not impede pedestrian, vehicular or railroad traffic.
  6. All persons have a right to talk to people entering and exiting a place being demonstrated, protested, strike and/or labor disputed, provided they are orderly. Intimidation, threats and coercion will not be permitted. If a person does not want to talk to those present he does not have to and may freely go about his/her business without being stopped, impeded, intimidated, coerced or threatened.
  7. Fighting, assault, battery, threats and intimidation will not be permitted.
  8. Firearms, knives, clubs and other unlawful weapons will not be permitted.
  1. There will be no wooden stakes or similar hard objects, to which signs may be attached to, permitted within the buildings at the University of Illinois Springfield.
  2. Demonstrators, protestors, strikers and/or labor disputers may not go upon the grounds or enter the buildings of a place being picketed if the property owner or other person with authority over the property gives notice that entry is forbidden or gives notice to depart.