Identity of Speakers
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Sunrise Movement
Student
OtherA youth-led activist organization focused on climate change and social justice, known for direct action and advocacy. In the Duke rally, its members joined students and faculty to support Fourth Amendment protections and limits on ICE access, contributing to organizing and advocacy efforts on campus.
Resources
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Rally or protest
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Incident Political Orientation:
Not Clear -
Incident Responses:
Rally or Protests
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Incident Status:
No litigation
- Did not involve Speech Codes
Summary
On December 5, 2025, approximately 40 students, faculty, and community members gathered on Abele Quad at Duke University to call on President Vincent Price and university leaders to declare Duke a Fourth Amendment Campus. The demonstrators, including members of the Sunrise Movement, requested that the university adopt policies protecting students, staff, and community members from ICE and other immigration enforcement actions on campus without a warrant. They stated that ICE agents should not access non-public university spaces without a judge-signed warrant and called for training for faculty and staff on how to respond to enforcement requests.
In the days before the protest, organizers cited increased ICE activity in Durham and the surrounding Triangle area. They said unclear institutional policies contributed to concern among immigrant students and staff. Demonstrators referred to guidance used by local immigrant-rights organizations for responding to federal agents.
The protest took place amid broader discussions at Duke about constitutional rights and institutional responsibility. In late November 2025, the university was reported to take a pragmatic approach to freedom of speech, emphasizing the importance of allowing faculty expression while maintaining institutional neutrality. Administrators had stated that they sought to balance civil liberties, including First Amendment protections, with the university’s responsibilities as a private institution.
Participants said they planned to continue advocacy with monthly events if the administration did not adopt the requested protections. They described their efforts as part of a broader movement to ensure that Fourth Amendment protections are explicitly supported by university policy.
