Most campus protests don’t just happen by chance. At the University of Georgia, student organizers plan each demonstration, coordinate volunteers and manage legal and social risks to make sure their message is heard.
For many students, protesting isn’t necessarily an act of rebellion; it’s a way to take a stand against issues they see as unjust.
“What are you doing if you’re not protesting, right? If you’re not doing anything else, get out there and protest. It’s better than doing nothing,” said Brandon Lovell, a third-year international affairs student. Lovell attended the recent “ICE Out of Athens” walkout and protest held on UGA’s campus on Jan. 20, 2026.
Why It’s Newsworthy: Amid a rise in campus protests, this story highlights how activism is planned and organized among college students.The event was organized by student groups like UGA Young Democrats and UGA Young Democratic Socialists of America, in light of the death of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old American intensive care nurse, who was shot multiple times and killed by two U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
You sit there, you watch the news and you feel like the world’s burning, and you just want to do something,” Lovell said.
Devin Vercammen, a member of UGA’s Young Democratic Socialists of America and a third-year environmental engineering major, described the logistics behind advertising such demonstrations.
“We have always done a lot of flyering,” she said. “We tend to organize to see which people are available and when to hand out flyers as many days as possible in advance. We only had three days this time, so it’s a short turnaround, but we had a really good turnout.”
Quick turnarounds are not the only thing student activists are challenged with. Organizers face unique risks, and safety among protestors is an issue for organizers.
We do have people who try to come up to you and get in your face and make fun of you, yell at you, say slurs at you; we do have that kind of stuff happen, and it’s not fun. We try to protect people as much as possible,” Vercammen said.
Organizing and Navigating UGA Policy
Organizers must navigate university policies that regulate the time, place and manner in which protests are allowed on campus grounds. At the University of Georgia, demonstrations in certain areas often require advance notice or approval through the Tate Student Center Administrative Suite. Planning often includes coordinating with multiple student groups, assigning marshals and preparing participants for possible counterprotests.
Caleb Lux, president of UGA Young Democrats and a fourth-year political science major, explained the challenges of bringing different groups together.
“Some of the hardest parts are just getting folks to spend the time to really iron out the details for this event,” he said. “I mean, it’s kind of chaotic, putting together very different groups with very different interests in mind, even though we do have a shared goal in this instance of protesting ICE and the horrors that we’re seeing in Minneapolis. It really helps when you have a solid, unifying mission.”
I think that mode of expression and just letting it out is so important, because if we are unable to find action or joy in any of our activities, then we will all just be bogged down in the misery of the world and that does no one any good,” Lux said.
Student protesters say they often face criticism from other students, community members and people online. Yet organizers continue to mobilize, balancing strategy and safety while exercising their constitutional right to free speech.
According to a study done at the Center for Applied Research in Education at the University of Southern California, out of 4,200 American adults surveyed, 44% believe walking out in protest is never acceptable, 67% disapprove of shouting at speakers and 86% say it is sometimes or always acceptable for police to arrest students. Organizers say those perceptions limit the scope at which students can extend their rights.
I want people to know that just because you’re a busy student doesn’t mean you can’t make a big difference. And the biggest strength we have is numbers,” Vercammen said.
For some, the decision to protest is an easy one. For others, it’s not. Organizers say the decision to protest is rarely just about showing up to an event for an hour. Organizers say it can shape relationships and even a student’s sense of safety on campus. Despite the challenges, organizers remain committed to persistent activism over silence.
Growth happens over time, but when people see the same people showing up, talking about things and offering ways to join, when they see that visible speech, people are more likely to join you. You really just have to keep pushing for that momentum,” Vercammen said.
Saleha Alam is a third-year journalism and political science student with a Certificate in Public Affairs Communications at the University of Georgia on a pre-law track.
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