The First Amendment to the United States Constitution provides that Congress shall make no law abridging (curtailing) the right of the people to peaceably assemble. And the U.S. Supreme Court has determined that a right to freedom of association and belief is implicit in the First, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments. But this right to freedom of assembly is limited to First Amendment purposes and does not include a right to assemble for social purposes or to engage in or promote illegal activities. And when there is a right of association, the government may not require the group to disclose the identity of its members, or deny government benefits on the basis of current or past membership in a group.

In Rhode Island, as in all states, the right to peaceably assemble is protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. This means that individuals and groups in Rhode Island have the right to gather for peaceful protest, public demonstrations, and other expressive activities without undue interference from the government, as long as their actions are for First Amendment purposes, such as expressing political, social, or religious views. However, this right does not extend to assemblies that are for purely social purposes or that aim to engage in or promote illegal activities. Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized a right to freedom of association, which includes the right to form and maintain groups without unwarranted government intrusion. In Rhode Island, the government cannot compel groups to disclose their membership lists, nor can it deny benefits based on an individual's current or past membership in a particular group, as long as the group's activities are lawful and protected by the First Amendment.