Brown v. Louisiana
United States Supreme Court
383 U.S. 131 (1966)
- Written by Heather Whittemore, JD
Facts
The Audubon Regional Library (the library system) operated three libraries and two bookmobiles in Louisiana. Black residents could use one of the bookmobiles but were not allowed to use the libraries or the other bookmobile. Five Black men (the protestors) (defendants) who were members of the Congress of Racial Equality staged a silent sit-in at one of the libraries to protest the segregated library system. The protestors were asked to leave the library by two librarians and the local sheriff, but they refused. The protestors were arrested and charged with violating Louisiana’s breach-of-the-peace statute, which criminalized the refusal to leave a public place after being ordered to do so. The Louisiana Supreme Court found no error in the convictions. The protestors appealed, arguing that their arrest under the statute violated the First Amendment.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Fortas, J.)
Dissent (Black, J.)
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