Protesters Allowed More Space At Rhode Island Gov. McKee's Speech: ACLU

PROVIDENCE, RI — The public — including protesters — have been granted access to more room in the State House during Gov. Dan McKee's State of the State address next week, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island.

"In an important preliminary victory for First Amendment rights and the role of the Capitol building as a quintessential forum for free speech activity, state officials have agreed to keep most of the first floor and rotunda at the State House open for use by the public, including those engaged in peaceful protest, immediately prior to, and during, Governor McKee’s upcoming annual 'State of the State' address in January," ACLU Rhode Island posted on its website.

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The ACLU sued McKee in October on behalf of "activists who were intentionally denied access to the State House for a rally and threatened with arrest" before his 2025 State of the State speech.

The same night as the governor's annual address in January 2025, a “People’s State of the State” rally was planned by local groups "to raise awareness about economic disparity in Rhode Island," the ACLU of Rhode Island said in a media release.

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"The rally was supposed to take place in the State House rotunda an hour before the Governor’s State of the State address in the House of Representatives chamber," the release said, but the protesters were "advised that the Governor’s office had instructed State Police and Capitol Police to prevent them from accessing the Rotunda and the upper floors of the State House."

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"Unable to hold their rally in the rotunda, the protesters were instead shunted by police to the 'Bell Room' for their rally, a recessed area in the back of the State House on the first floor located away from the building’s main entrance and elevators, and in a less visible and less accessible location than the rotunda," the release said.

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The ACLU said the decision to keep the open for this year's speech was due to its lawsuit.

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