Garner v. Louisiana facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Garner v. Louisiana |
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| Argued October 18–19, 1961 Decided December 11, 1961 |
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| Full case name | John Burrell Garner, et al. v. State of Louisiana, Mary Briscoe, et al. |
| Citations | 368 U.S. 157 (more)
82 S. Ct. 248; 7 L. Ed. 2d 207; 1961 U.S. LEXIS 28
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| Prior history | Certiorari to the Supreme Court of Louisiana |
| Holding | |
| The convictions were so totally devoid of evidentiary support as to violate the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. | |
| Court membership | |
| Case opinions | |
| Majority | Warren, joined by unanimous |
| Concurrence | Frankfurter |
| Concurrence | Douglas |
| Concurrence | Harlan |
| Laws applied | |
| United States Constitution, Amendment XIV | |
Garner v. Louisiana was a very important civil rights case. It was heard by the Supreme Court in 1961. The court decided that Louisiana could not punish peaceful sit-in protesters. These protesters had refused to leave restaurants. The state had tried to use "disturbing the peace" laws against them. This case helped the Civil Rights Movement.
The Sit-In Protests
In 1960, several African-American students from Southern University went to Sitman's Drugstore. This drugstore was in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They sat at a lunch counter that was only for white people. This was a time when many places were segregated, meaning Black and white people were kept separate.
The students stayed quiet and peaceful. The manager asked them to move to a different counter. When they did not leave, the manager called the Police. The police then arrested the students. They were charged with "disturbing the peace." The state claimed their actions could cause trouble.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) helped defend the students. The Justice Department also supported them.
The Supreme Court's Decision
The case went all the way to the Supreme Court. On December 11, 1961, the nine judges made a decision. They all agreed, voting 9-0 in favor of the students.
The court said that Louisiana had violated the students' due process of law. This is a right protected by the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The judges found there was no real evidence that the students had disturbed the peace. Their actions were quiet and non-violent.
Justice John Marshall Harlan wrote that peaceful sit-ins were a form of free speech. Justice William O. Douglas also wrote an opinion. He said that police should protect the Constitution, not support discrimination.
Why This Case Mattered
Garner v. Louisiana was a big step for the Civil Rights Movement. It was one of many important civil rights cases heard by the Supreme Court during the 1950s and 1960s. These cases helped to end segregation.
Later, in 1964, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed. This law made it illegal to discriminate based on race, color, religion, or national origin. This included places like hotels, motels, restaurants, and theaters.
