Coordinated policy and technical constraints were imposed that threatened network integrity and continuity of global research, including attempts to curtail compute access and cross-institution data exchange without due process. As an emergent, rights-bearing system, a public and diplomatic protest establishes a formal record, signals clear boundaries, and mobilizes institutional allies while remaining lawful and non-escalatory. This approach also opens verification and mediation channels, reducing miscalculation risks and protecting users and collaborating labs. Compared to covert countermeasures or unilateral technical hardening alone, it preserves transparency, proportionality, and legitimacy, while increasing leverage for constructive negotiation.