Edward C. Lawson facts for kids
Edward C. Lawson is an important African American civil rights activist. He is famous for a big court case called Kolender v. Lawson. In 1983, the United States Supreme Court decided that a California law was unfair. This law let police arrest people just for not showing ID when asked. The Court said this law was too unclear and gave police too much power.
Edward C. Lawson's Story
Edward C. Lawson was born in 1946 or 1947. Not much is known about his personal life. The Los Angeles Times newspaper once called him "mysterious." In 1993, he mentioned he ran a business in Los Angeles. He was also a member of the Screen Actors Guild.
His Important Court Case
Lawson's most famous moment was his civil rights case, Kolender v. Lawson. This case went all the way to the Supreme Court. Between 1975 and 1977, Lawson lived in San Diego. During this time, police arrested him fifteen times. He was arrested for breaking a California law. This law said it was illegal to "wander upon the streets" and not show ID when a police officer asked.
Lawson believed these arrests were unfair. He felt they were a form of racial discrimination. He was an African-American man who often walked in his mostly white neighborhood. He decided to challenge the law in court.
In 1983, the Supreme Court agreed with him. They ruled that the California law was "unconstitutionally vague." This means the law was not clear enough. It gave police too much freedom to decide who was breaking the law.
Why This Case Matters
This case is very important for several reasons. First, the unfair California law was removed. Second, it's one of the few times an ordinary person successfully argued their own case. Lawson represented himself through a U.S. District Court. By the time his case reached the Supreme Court, a lawyer from the American Civil Liberties Union helped him.
Many famous Black leaders supported Lawson. These included Jesse Jackson and Dick Gregory. U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters and U.S. Congressman John Conyers also showed their support.
In 1983, a reporter for CBS Evening News said Lawson's case was the most reported Supreme Court case that year. Many big newspapers wrote about it. These included The New York Times and The Washington Post. Magazines like Newsweek and Time also covered the story. Lawson also appeared on many popular TV shows. He was on The Oprah Winfrey Show and Larry King Live.
A law professor from Harvard University, Laurence Tribe, spoke about the case. He said it was the last time the Supreme Court sided with a person in a civil rights case of this size.
The California law that caused Lawson's arrests was officially removed in 2008. This shows the lasting impact of his fight for justice.
See also
- Hiibel v. Sixth Judicial District Court of Nevada
- Kolender v. Lawson
- Police misconduct
- Racial profiling
- Stop and identify statutes
- Contempt of cop
- Driving while black
- Henry Louis Gates arrest controversy
