Ahead of today’s National School Walkout and the March 24 “March For Our Lives”, cartoonist Kai Texel is aiming to help students know their rights when protesting with a newly released comic book.

With millions of students exercising their right to peaceful protest in demand of action on improved school safety, Texel teamed up with the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and National Coalition Against Censorship to explain students’ rights when protesting.

The free comic, titled Be Heard! “outlines best practices to help kids assert their rights to speech, protest, assembly and petition, warns about risks, and provides resources to get more help.”

Texel, the CBLDF & NCAC are encouraging readers and participants to share the free online comic far and wide ahead of the National School Walkout, the March For Our Lives, and other youth-led protests, in hopes of arming youth activists with the knowledge of their rights and the risks associated with activism.

Be Heard PDF by Anonymous PUbaZEhf3 on Scribd

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund co-chair Neil Gaiman notes “In the US, freedom of speech is paramount. The First Amendment states that you can’t be arrested for saying things the government doesn’t like. It’s important that students everywhere know that they have the right to be heard. This comic will help provide them with practical tools to raise their voice.”

Be Heard! is available as a free download at CBLDF.org and NCAC.org, and through their social media channels. Follow #StudentsBeHeard for updates.

Josh Stewart considers himself a global citizen first and foremost and is passionate about cultural exchange. He has a B.s. in Political Science and Hispanic Studies from St. John's University in Minnesota and experience as both an ESL and social studies teacher in Korea and the Philippines. He currently works a digital content Manager for Citizen Education and Education Post and enjoys both traditional and creative methods crafting messages around the desperate need to improve our education system and provide quality options to the most marginalized students and families.

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