The Supreme Court overturned the conviction of a group of civil rights demonstrators, arguing that the group had a right to demonstrate peacefully even if local government officials disliked their political views.
By a 7-2 vote, the Supreme Court ruled that the conviction of civil rights demonstrators in Louisiana must be reversed because the state had allowed other approved groups to block traffic in similar ways to those convicted in this case. In Cox, it appeared that the state had improperly convicted these demonstrators because of the unpopularity of their views. In its decision, the Court was following the logic of time, place, and manner regulations that allow for safe, orderly streets but require like treatment of all demonstrators. Assembly is not as protected as speech is because the First Amendment qualifies assembly by the use of the word “peaceably.” This case should be contrasted with Adderley v. Florida
Adderley v. Florida
Assembly and association, freedom of
Brandenburg v. Ohio
Cox v. New Hampshire
First Amendment
Symbolic speech
Time, place, and manner regulations
Whitney v. California