Legal Definitions - protest

Definition:

• Verb: To complain publicly about an act or declare something firmly and emphatically in response to an accusation or doubt.
• Noun: A public demonstration expressing dissent towards an act or policy of a governing body, aimed at influencing public opinion and/or government policy.

Protests are often a form of civil resistance or nonviolent resistance, used as part of a larger systematic and peaceful nonviolent campaign aimed at achieving a specific objective through pressure and persuasion. For example, a protest against sending troops overseas or the use of the death penalty.

Other examples of protest include:

• A legal procedure by which a taxpayer disputes their property tax rate, assessed evaluation of property for tax purposes, or an import duty.
• A written demand for payment of an amount owed on a promissory note or a check that was refused by a bank.
• A document drawn by the master of a ship, stating the circumstances under which damage has happened to the ship or its cargo.
• An express reservation or notice used in commercial transactions to protect oneself against the effects of any admission that might be implied from their act.
• A certificate of dishonor made under the hand and seal of a United States consul, vice consul, notary public, or other person authorized to certify dishonor by the law of the place where dishonor occurs in commercial paper transactions.
• A proceeding to cancel or defeat an entry of public lands.

For example, a protest against property tax rates may involve a taxpayer disputing the assessed evaluation of their property for tax purposes. A protest against an import duty may involve a distinct and clear specification of each substantive ground of objection to the payment of the duty. A protest against a check that was refused by a bank may involve a written demand for payment of the amount owed. These examples illustrate how protests can be used to challenge and dispute various legal and financial issues.