Expressive conduct, sometimes called symbolic speech, includes nonverbal activities that convey ideas. For instance, the U.S. Supreme Court has found protection for  and for . Such activities are sufficiently imbued with elements of communication to receive First Amendment protection. Under the same reasoning, protests and boycotts receive constitutional protection.
However, non-expressive conduct receives no First Amendment protection. The Supreme Court has ruled, for instance, that a . Similarly, there is no constitutional protection for protestors who engage in property damage, trespassing or blocking entrances to buildings.