The Ancient Spanish Privilege to Kick in the Air

The "Right to kick" (EL DERECHO AL PATALEO DE LOS AHORCADOS) is an old Spanish idiom of disputed origin. The version I know refers to the right to protest granted to people sentenced to death, specifically, to kick in the air while being hanged. Meaning: you have the right to protest as much as you wish, but it will make no difference.

Someone in Tenerife, Spain, after waiting a long time in a queue and then his request was rejected, kicked in his way out a wastebasket with such bad luck that it damaged the copying machine. The Judge granted his right to be angry and acknowledged "the ancient Spanish privilege of the hanged man to kick in the air", but you are not being hanged and as an adult, you are expected to control your emotions. I sentence you to pay 70 Euro for damages to public property.

Others say that the students of the University of Salamanca enjoyed the right to make noise to convey their protest against a professor they disliked and not to be punished.