Cox v. Louisiana
United States Supreme Court
379 U.S. 536 (1965)
- Written by Josh Lee, JD
Facts
Twenty-three students were arrested in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on December 14, 1961, for picketing stores with segregated lunch counters. Reverend B. Elton Cox (defendant) led a demonstration the following day protesting those arrests. The demonstration included approximately 2,000 students marching about two-and-a-half blocks from the old Louisiana State Capitol building to the courthouse. When they arrived at the courthouse, some of the students began displaying picket signs. The students sang God Bless America and pledged allegiance to the U.S. flag. Then Cox delivered a speech further protesting the arrest of the students the day before. At the end of the speech, Cox encouraged the students to go to the stores with segregated lunch counters and sit at the Whites-only counters. At that point, White onlookers who had gathered began grumbling and muttering. The sheriff intervened and told Cox and the demonstrators that they were disturbing the peace. The sheriff ordered the demonstrators to break up and leave. The demonstrators did not immediately leave, and police officers fired tear gas into the crowd. The demonstrators then left. The following day, Cox was arrested and charged with disturbing the peace and obstructing a public passage. After a trial, Cox was convicted. Cox then appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Goldberg, J.)
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