Crossword Genius

Protest by Southern States (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

claims

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'states' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both to do with communicating as well as being verbs in their -s form.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'protest by southern' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'southern' could be 's' (abbreviation) and 's' is found within the answer.
The remaining letters 'claim' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for claims that I've seen before include "'Asserts, avers (6)'" , "Declares that one is the owner of something" , "Requests or demands as one's own" , "Requests as one's right" , "Assertions that one has gained or achieved something" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times.
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