Coastal Carolina University officers handcuffed three students this week after they found them drawing sidewalk chalk messages about the recent fatal police shooting in Ferguson, Mo.

The students were never charged and were quickly released. But the brief detainment infuriated those involved and the students insist they shouldn’t be required to obtain university permission to write temporary protest messages on campus sidewalks.

“It’s insane,” said Taylor Wright, one of the detained students. “We went to go speak our truth about the things that are going on in this country and to maybe spread a little bit of awareness to people on campus.”

Wright pointed out that campus clubs and organizations frequently promote their events with sidewalk chalk notes.