1A in Action: Elle DeLeonibus, the Power of Petition — and Chickens

Ten-year-old Elle DeLeonibus is no stranger to the power of petition.

She circulated a petition at her elementary school to fix the dated playground equipment. The result: This summer, students are getting new places to climb, jump and play.

Petitioning got more personal when the city questioned Elle’s right to keep her brood of 14 chickens in her suburban Maryland yard.

Editor's note: This profile is part of an ongoing series, 1A in Action, which highlights individuals who fought for their — and other people's — First Amendment freedoms.

What’s at stake:

Elle loves her birds. There’s Beyoncégg, Poultry McCartney, Aaron Bird Sir and Theodosia (she loves “Hamilton” too), just to name a few.

When a neighbor challenged her chicken coop, that sparked a citation from the city. Elle made plans to rehome her hens. But she also decided to try another petition, this one titled “Friends of Zuzu,” after her popular Polish chicken with a flamboyant fluffy crest.

The First Amendment gives everyone – no matter how young or old – the right to petition the government for change, along with protections for the freedoms of religion, speech, the press and assembly.

The First Amendment says “Congress shall make no law” but that phrase also means your state and local government.

What happened:

Most of Elle’s neighbors loved the chickens. She shared the two-dozen-plus eggs they laid each week with friends and neighbors.

She circulated her handwritten “Friends of Zuzu” petition among her schoolmates, neighbors and friends, supporting her request to allow chickens in backyards in her city. One young chum penned a pro-poultry poem. She collected more than 50 names, which she submitted to the city compliance officer.

He was touched by Elle’s plea. The city wouldn’t change the law, but Elle did qualify to apply to be an urban farmer. She was approved, and she got to keep her birds.

What Elle DeLeonibus says:

“I believe the First Amendment means freedom for everybody to speak up, who has a voice, and that everybody has a voice.”

“I know the First Amendment means you can have freedom of speech in the United States. I believe it means you can respectfully fight for what you believe is right.”

“At school, we were learning about persuasive letters and the government and how some people can write to the government and have laws changed.”

Why it matters to you:

Challenging the government is freedom of petition. It’s one of the least known First Amendment freedoms but one whose power has been proven throughout history.

Generations of Americans have used freedom of petition to advocate for causes large and small. People have petitioned for women’s right to vote, for equal rights for Black Americans, and to challenge vaccine mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

People sign petitions to support candidates, seek a new stop sign — or to get permission to keep chickens in their yard.

Elle DeLeonibus’s inspiration:

“You have a voice and if something doesn't seem right, you can try to speak up about it ... We wanted to change the law about chickens, but instead we found an alternative. It can still work, just not in the way you expect it to work.”

“After I did a petition at school, I felt confident about doing it here for my chickens. And even though it was a lot bigger than just my head of school, it was the government, I felt like it probably would work. So, I tried it and successfully it worked.”

“I think other young people should know that they still have a voice even though they’re kids. If something doesn’t seem right, you can take steps to try and fix the situation. Find someone you can trust to help you voice your concerns and make sure you’re heard.”

Ask an expert:

The right to petition belongs to everybody. It allows us to speak our minds directly to the government without fear of being punished. This protection is an essential part of our ability to participate in government — even if there's no guarantee that we will achieve our desired result.

– Kevin Goldberg, First Amendment specialist, Freedom Forum

Learn more:

There’s lot to learn about speaking up and petitioning the government, two powerful First Amendment freedoms. Here’s more about the freedom of speech and some of its limits. Here’s more on the freedom of petition. And here’s much more about the First Amendment.

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