Case Studies

[Date of Submission]

Title: Edwards v. South Carolina, 372 U.S. 229 (1963)

Facts: 187 Negro Students went for a peaceful protest at site of State Government in Columbia at South Carolina, on the 2nd of March, 1961. There they all marched divided in groups numbering to approximately 15 students, they marched against the laws that were allegedly responsible for prohibiting Negro Privileges. They gathered together and brought placards protesting against the laws. However, they were peaceful in their actions all the time. They were asked to depart by the police after a fifteen minute warning, which they ignored. So at the expiry of their deadline, they were arrested and rounded up by the police.

Court Timeline:

Argued December 13, 1962

Decided February 25, 1963,

Evidence: Evidence brought in the court was eye-witnesses, which were the mayor, the chief of the police, the students themselves and the officers present on the scene.

Issues: The issue or foundation of the case was that they were convicted and arrested of the common law crime that is the breach of the peace according to the State Supreme Court.

Decisions: The Decision of the State Supreme Court was reversed and the students were freed

Reasoning: The rationale behind the final decision was that the actions of the police clashed against the First Amendment and the Fourteenth Amendment, both Statuettes safeguard the right of freedom of expression of individuals. By arresting the students when they were peacefully marching, the Police of State of South Carolina violated the conditions of the Amendments. This is why the decision was reversed.

Dissenting opinions: There was a dissension because according to the Police, they had acted in order to preserve the peace of the community. In the onlookers, they police had seen some suspicious individuals who might have taken the opportunity to stir up trouble. The police had asked the students to leave, at which they becomes more boisterous, so the police at the expiry of the deadline arrested them in order to protect the peace of the community, which is their right under the breach of peace statuette.

Disorderly conduct: Disorderly conduct is when people resort to aggressive behavior such as breaking, looting, shouting, hooting, abusing and other negative behaviors. Groups which exhibit disorderly behavior are classified under breach of peace but groups that demonstrate their viewpoints or issues in a peaceful manner are to be tolerated.

Title: Adderley et al. V/s. Florida 385 U.S. 39 (1966)

Facts: A group of protestors, 200 students marched to the driveway of a Non-Public Jail, where they were contesting against the arrest of their fellow students the day before. They chanted, sang songs and danced on the driveway. The Sheriff in charge of the jail asked them to leave, than later warned them that if they didn't, they would be arrested. Majority of the people still refused to leave and in the end the Sheriff ended up arresting 107 people. Court Timeline:

Argued October 18, 1966

Decided November 14, 1966

Evidence: Evidence brought in the court was eye-witnesses that are the Sheriff, the ...