District of Columbia v. John R. Thompson Co. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids District of Columbia v. John R. Thompson Co. Inc. |
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| Argued April 30, 1953 Decided June 8, 1953 |
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| Full case name | District of Columbia vs John R. Thompson Co. Inc. |
| Citations | 346 U.S. 100 (more)
73 S. Ct. 1007; 97 L. Ed. 2d 1480; 1953 U.S. LEXIS 2001
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| Prior history | 81 A.2d 249 (D.C. 1951); affirmed in part, reversed in part, 203 F.2d 579 (D.C. Cir. 1953). |
| Subsequent history | On remand, 214 F.2d 210 (D.C. Cir. 1954). |
| Opinion Announcement | Opinion announcement |
| Holding | |
| Segregation policies by Thompson Cafeteria's were illegal | |
| Court membership | |
| Case opinions | |
| Majority | Douglas, joined by Vinson, Black, Reed, Frankfurter, Burton, Clark, Minton |
| Jackson took no part in the consideration or decision of the case. | |
District of Columbia v. John R. Thompson Co. Inc. was an important case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1953. It was about whether old laws from 1872 and 1873, which banned segregation (keeping people of different races apart) in public places in Washington, D.C., were still valid.
At the time, there was a lot of racial tension in Washington, D.C. Black residents were tired of unfair treatment in areas like housing, businesses, and schools. This case helped bring about change. On June 8, 1953, the Supreme Court decided that the segregation policies at Thompson's Cafeteria were illegal. This was a big win for the Black community across the country.
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How Did the Case Start?
This challenge to segregation began with an African American activist named Mary Church Terrell. She was 87 years old and led Washington's Coordinating Committee, a group that worked to end segregation in the city.
Lawyers found out that some laws from the Reconstruction Era (after the Civil War) that outlawed segregation had never been officially canceled, even though they weren't being enforced. So, on January 27, 1950, Terrell and some friends went to Thompson's diner and asked for a table. When the manager refused to serve them because they were Black, the Coordinating Committee decided to take legal action against segregated restaurants.
The Coordinating Committee's Efforts
The Coordinating Committee included many important civil rights leaders. They got a lot of media attention and put pressure on local officials. Usually, they would organize boycotts, protests, or quiet talks to fight segregation in restaurants. They also made a popular list of restaurants that served both Black and white customers. This put economic pressure on restaurants that refused to serve everyone.
In this case, the Committee chose Thompson's diner to challenge in court. After Terrell and her friends were turned away, the Committee urged the city's leaders (called District Commissioners) to investigate the restaurant for not following the 1872 and 1873 laws.
What Happened in the Lower Courts?
The City Commissioners quickly agreed with Mary Church Terrell, realizing the old laws had not been canceled. However, Thompson's manager still refused to change his policy. So, the District of Columbia sued the restaurant on behalf of Terrell and the Committee. The case went to the local Municipal Court in July 1950.
A powerful group called the Board of Trade, which supported segregation, helped the restaurant legally. The Municipal Court quickly said that the Reconstruction laws were no longer in effect. They argued that these laws were canceled when Congress passed a new law in 1878 that changed the local government. The court believed that since the old laws were made by an outdated government, they no longer applied. This led to a long process of appeals.
Appeals and Conflicting Decisions
In May 1951, Washington's Municipal Court of Appeals overturned the first ruling. This court said that while part of the 1872 law might have been canceled, the 1873 law was still valid. They reasoned that no new laws had automatically canceled the measures put in place by earlier officials.
However, this victory was short-lived. The decision wouldn't take effect until all appeals were heard. In January 1953, the federal U.S. Court of Appeals overturned the Municipal Court of Appeals' decision by a close vote of 5-4. Because of these conflicting decisions from different judges, the case eventually made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court began reviewing the case on April 30, 1953.
The Supreme Court's Decision
The Supreme Court found problems with the arguments made by Thompson's Cafeteria. First, the Court stated that if the government doesn't enforce a law, it doesn't mean the law disappears or is canceled. So, even though the city hadn't enforced the 1873 Act for about 80 years, it was still a valid law.
Second, the Supreme Court emphasized that only Congress had the power to change or cancel the laws made by the local government. The Court pointed out that in 1878, Congress took away all law-making power from Washington's local government. This meant that only Congress could repeal the 1873 Act, which protected the rights of all races in public places. Since Congress had not canceled the Act, it was still legally in effect.
Finally, the Supreme Court also looked at a law from 1901 that gave the local Washington government more independence. The Court said that even if the local leaders had the power to replace the anti-discrimination laws after 1901, there was no sign that they ever did.
Because of these reasons, on June 8, 1953, the Supreme Court overturned the Appeals Court's decision and ruled in favor of the District of Columbia. This meant that segregation in Thompson's Cafeteria was illegal.
What Happened Next?
Mary Church Terrell shared her joy, saying she would "die happy to know that the children of my group will not grow up thinking they are inferior." At 90 years old, she was thrilled to finally have the right to be served anywhere in the nation's capital.
This case, along with Hurd v. Hodge and Bolling v. Sharpe, played a big part in ending official segregation in Washington, D.C.
