brown louisiana argued december decided february purpose peaceably protesting denial constitutional right equal treatment public facility petitioners five negroes entered public room regional library operated segregated basis louisiana parishes lived another parish one library room except petitioners library assistant petitioner brown requested book library assistant checking advised library book request state library brown notified upon receipt book mailed later date instructions mail back deliver library blue bookmobile facility reserved negroes thereafter library assistant asked petitioners leave purpose manifesting silent protest library segregation policy brown sat others stood near noise boisterous talking branch librarian also asked petitioners leave remained minutes time petitioners entered library sheriff deputies arrived forewarned asked petitioners leave told sheriff arrested subsequently petitioners convicted violating louisiana breach peace statute makes crime intent provoke breach peace circumstances breach peace may occasioned thereby crowd congregate public building fail refuse disperse move ordered law enforcement officer authorized person held decision reversed pp justice fortas joined chief justice justice douglas concluded slightest evidence sustain application breach peace statute petitioners since nothing indicate intent provoke breach peace circumstances indicate breach might occasioned demonstration peaceful orderly unprovocative patrons present library petitioners conduct considerably less disruptive preceding three situations invalidated convictions louisiana statute predecessor garner louisiana taylor louisiana cox louisiana pp rights peaceable orderly protest petitioners exercising first fourteenth amendments confined verbal expression embrace types expression including appropriate silent reproachful presence petitioners used therefore even action came within statute held statute constitutionally reach petitioners actions circumstances case pp regulation libraries public facilities must reasonable nondiscriminatory may used pretext punishing exercise constitutional rights justice brennan concluded louisiana breach peace statute unconstitutional overbreadth held cox louisiana intervening limiting construction legislative revision statute circumstance case make declaration invalidity less controlling pp justice white concluded petitioners convictions must reversed since record shown making normal authorized use public library remaining minutes ordering book pp carl rachlin argued cause petitioners brief robert collins nils douglas murphy bell floyd mckissick marvin karpatkin richard kilbourne argued cause respondent brief jack gremillion attorney general louisiana carroll buck first assistant attorney general justice fortas announced judgment opinion chief justice justice douglas join fourth time little four years reviewed convictions louisiana courts alleged violations civil rights context state breach peace statute three preceding cases convictions reversed garner louisiana decided december involved negroes lunch counters catering whites taylor louisiana decided june concerned negroes waiting room bus depot reserved whites cox louisiana decided january involved leader negroes demonstrated vicinity courthouse jail protest arrest fellow demonstrators cases demonstration orderly purpose participants protest denial negroes rights guaranteed state federal constitutions petition governments redress grievances none evidence participants planned intended disorder none circumstances might led breach peace chargeable protesting participants garner found record utterly barren evidence support convictions title article louisiana criminal code defined crime disturbing peace specific detail record contained evidence boisterous disorderly actions passive conduct likely cause public disturbance taylor arose louisiana statute amended read present form see infra per curiam opinion set aside convictions despite evidence restlessness among white onlookers finally cox held facts permit application louisiana breach peace statute despite large scale demonstrations fact petitioner speech occasioned grumbling part white onlookers petitioner demonstrators group though well behaved far silent additional reason conviction sustained citing terminiello chicago edwards south carolina held statute defined applied louisiana done unconstitutional vagueness breadth definition allow persons punished merely peacefully expressing unpopular views see edwards south carolina supra since present case decided precisely statute involved cox decision case announced might well supposed without ado vacate remand light cox incident leading present convictions occurred public library might thought raise materially different questions heard argument considered case extenso locus events audubon regional library town clinton louisiana parish east feliciana front room building used public library facility patrons might obtain library services small room containing two tables one chair apart branch assistant desk chairs stove card catalogue open book shelves room referred regional librarian perkins adult adult library permitted registered borrowers browse among books room borrow books registered borrower one produce identification card showing registered audubon regional library space building included headquarters regional library audubon regional library operated jointly parishes east feliciana west feliciana helena three branches two bookmobiles bookmobiles served schools white negro well individuals one bookmobiles red blue red bookmobile served white persons blue bookmobile served negroes permissible inference negroes used branch libraries registration cards issued negroes stamped word negro negro possession card entitled borrow books blue bookmobile white person receive service blue bookmobile wait red bookmobile came around go branch library tidy plan challenged saturday march five young negro males residents east west feliciana parishes went adult reading service room audubon regional library clinton branch assistant katie reeves alone room met men tables asked help petitioner brown requested book story negro arna bontemps reeves checked card catalogue ascertained branch book advised brown told request book state library notified upon receipt either pick mailed told point service bookmobile mailed reeves testified expected men leave asked leave petitioner brown sat others stood near said nothing noise boisterous talking reeves called perkins regional librarian another room perkins asked men leave remained neither reeves perkins called sheriff minutes time arrival men library sheriff deputies arrived sheriff asked negroes leave said sheriff arrested sheriff notified morning members congress racial equality going library ordinarily sheriff testified core tells going demonstrate picket sheriff standing place business saw colored males coming street saw enter library called jail notify deputies reached library immediately deputies got sheriff arrived noise disturbance testified arrested leaving public building asked officer library obtained requested book mailed brown march accompanying card said may return book either mail blue bookmobile reference color vehicle obviously designed facilitate identification library vehicle blue bookmobile negroes negroes course argument counsel state petitioners stated clinton branch closed incident march counsel state also advised use cards stamped negro continues practice regional library march brown four companions tried found guilty brown sentenced pay costs default thereof spend days parish jail companions sentenced costs days jail charge congregated together public library clinton louisiana intent provoke breach peace circumstances breach peace might occasioned thereby failed refused leave said premises ordered librarian sheriff louisiana breach peace statute accused reads follows whoever intent provoke breach peace circumstances breach peace may occasioned thereby crowds congregates others public place building fails refuses disperse move disperse move ordered law enforcement officer authorized person shall guilty disturbing peace louisiana law convictions appealable see garner louisiana supra petitioners sought discretionary review louisiana denied application finding error granted certiorari reverse may briefly dispose certain threshold problems petitioners constitutionally convicted merely comply order leave library see shuttlesworth city birmingham wright georgia johnson virginia cf cox louisiana supra separate opinion justice black statute reads conjunctive requires defined breach peace order move without reference statute must noted petitioners presence library unquestionably lawful public facility open public negroes denied access since white persons welcome wright georgia supra watson city memphis johnson virginia supra petitioners deportment library unexceptionable neither loud boisterous obstreperous indecorous impolite claim apart continuation ten fifteen minutes presence conduct provided basis order leave charge breach peace come barebones problem petitioners five adult negro men remained library room total ten fifteen minutes first moments occupied ritualistic request service response may assume response constituted service need consider whether merely gambit ritual ceremony way negroes proceeded business hand sat stood room quietly monuments protest segregation library arrested charged convicted breach peace specific statute compare situation garner must inevitably conclude slightest evidence sustain application statute petitioners statute requires showing either intent provoke breach peace circumstances breach peace may occasioned acts question case slightest hint either need beguiled ritual request copy story negro need assume petitioner brown friends search book night reading instead rest upon manifest fact intended stage peaceful orderly protest demonstration intent provoke breach peace see garner louisiana supra circumstances breach peace might occasioned actions statute alternatively provides library room empty except librarians patrons onlookers except vigilant forewarned sheriff deputies petitioners nothing said nothing even remotely provocative danger existed surely less course white lunch counters garner surely less danger breach peace might occur katie reeves perkins adult reading room clinton branch library disorder might result restless white people bus depot waiting room taylor grumbling white onlookers cox cases refused countenance convictions louisiana breach peace statute argument state louisiana however issue presented case much simpler statement indicate issue asserts state simply petitioners using library room place loaf make nuisance state argues test permissible civil rights demonstration concluded petitioners entered library asked service served satisfied argument runs get service departed instead simply sat staring vacantly enough unnerve woman situation reeves piquant version affair matter hardly decided points game handily gesture service particular request dispute library system segregated possible doubt petitioners protest fact even agree state ingenuous characterization events reverse violation statute petitioners accused breaching disorder intent provoke breach peace circumstances indicating breach might occasioned petitioners actions sole statutory provision invoked state contains word occupying reading room public library minutes purports punish bare refusal obey unexplained command withdraw public street see garner supra public building find nothing language statute fact elevate giving cause reeves discomfort however may sympathize crime state louisiana cf shuttlesworth city birmingham concurring opinion another sharper answer called dealing aspect basic constitutional right right first fourteenth amendments guaranteeing freedom speech assembly freedom petition government redress grievances constitution state louisiana reiterates guaranties see art repeatedly stated rights confined verbal expression embrace appropriate types action certainly include right peaceable orderly manner protest silent reproachful presence place protestant every right unconstitutional segregation public facilities accordingly even accused action within scope statutory instrument required assess constitutional impact application hold statute constitutionally applied punish petitioners actions circumstances case see edwards south carolina supra statute deliberately purposefully applied solely terminate reasonable orderly limited exercise right protest unconstitutional segregation public facility interference right exercised state action intolerable constitution wright georgia supra unhappy circumstance locus events public library place dedicated quiet knowledge beauty sad commentary hallowed place parish east feliciana bore ugly stamp racism sad public library reasonably enough circumstances stage confrontation discriminated representatives offending parishes fortunately circumstances claim made use library others disturbed demonstration perhaps time method carefully chosen mind otherwise factor present case considered disturbance others disruption library activities violation library regulations state instrumentality may course regulate use libraries public facilities must reasonable nondiscriminatory manner equally applicable administered equality may may provide certain facilities whites others negroes may invoke regulations use whether ad hoc general pretext pursuing engaged lawful constitutionally protected exercise fundamental rights cf wright georgia supra decision reversed footnotes statute read disturbing peace following manner foreseeably disturb alarm public engaging fistic encounter using unnecessarily loud offensive insulting language appearing intoxicated condition engaging act violent tumultuous manner three persons holding unlawful assembly interruption lawful assembly people commission act manner unreasonably disturb alarm public disputed demonstration orderly demonstrators clapped sang petitioner spoke protest arrests certain civil rights demonstrators addition breach peace charge cox charged obstructing public passageways demonstrating near convictions grounds also reversed see inference finds support testimony sheriff laura spears witness defense employed assistant charge blue bookmobile la rev stat cum supp see button garner louisiana supra separate opinion justice harlan alabama stromberg california see kalven op cit supra cf wright georgia supra justice brennan concurring judgment petitioners charged convicted violating louisiana statute provides whoever intent provoke breach peace circumstances breach peace may occasioned thereby crowds congregates others upon public street public highway upon public sidewalk public place building fails refuses disperse move ordered law enforcement officer municipality parish act acts committed law enforcement officer state louisiana authorized person shall guilty disturbing peace la rev stat cum supp appellants cox convicted conduct public streets sidewalks petitioners convicted conduct public library contended dissent post cox case involve different phases public street sidewalk phase contrast public building phase insofar dissection statute meaningful make holding cox inapplicable phases overbroad overbreadth poses serious threat exercise constitutional rights first overbreadth discerned cox inhere terms public street public sidewalk inhered phrase breach peace interpreted louisiana mean agitate arouse state repose molest interrupt hinder disquiet nothing louisiana courts decisions case rejects interpretation phrase breach peace public building phase anything public building make definition proscribed conduct inapplicable public building phase especially read context phases contrary dissent suggestion post restricted even aimed trespassers government property louisiana separate criminal statute involved prosecution explicitly deals trespassing public buildings moreover reject suggestion breach peace statute making refusal obey order disperse move element crime narrow sufficiently specific trespass statute explicitly concerned trespassing government property also makes refusal obey order keep leave property element crime statute seeks curb breaches peace risks breaches occurring crowding apparently permits wide range persons issue requisite order formal customary procedures need followed issuing order instantaneous unquestioning compliance order required example trial applying assumed matter state law employee library authority issue order disperse move simply occasion arose petitioners expected immediately comply order even though might reasonably thought ejected simply preserve segregated character library cf wright georgia second danger posed louisiana courts definition breach peace might sweep within broad scope activities constitutionally protected less present read conjunction public building read public street public sidewalk constitutional protection conduct public building undertaken desegregate governmental services provided therein derives first amendment guarantees freedom speech petition assembly equal protection clause prohibition racial segregation governmental services facilities overbreadth public building phase might inhibit exercise constitutional rights threatening punishment initial efforts secure desegregation example public building phase might read reaching conduct two negroes nothing enter library restricted whites request book refuse leave ordered service rendered conduct two negroes constitutionally protected conduct negro refused leave white section segregated courtroom johnson virginia yet conduct punishable purpose deemed agitate arouse state repose molest interrupt hinder disquiet light possible clearly unconstitutional applications statute need decide whether petitioners actual conduct constitutionally protected appraising statute inhibitory effect upon rights hesitated take account possible applications statute factual contexts besides bar button suffices petitioners conduct arguably constitutionally protected sort conduct obviously prohibited construction engaged achieve desegregation library request service protest expressed petitioners continued presence petitioners orderly quiet continued presence relatively short period time interfere functioning library presence might embarrassed unnerved librarians past faithfully observed policy segregation vague disquietudes take petitioners conduct outside appropriate limits sheriff gave petitioners reason order leave thus petitioners might reasonably believed ejected negroes seeking exercise constitutional rights brother black observed feiner new york least time allows courtesy explanation commands basic elements good official conduct democratic society since overbreadth construed clearly requires reversal convictions wholly unnecessary reach let alone rest reversal prevailing opinion seems proposition even narrowly drawn statute constitutionally applied punish petitioners actions circumstances case see shuttlesworth city birmingham concurring opinion dombrowski pfister compare joseph burstyn wilson commercial pictures regents kingsley pictures regents declaring statute unconstitutional overbreadth cox relied heavily terminiello chicago case involving application breach peace ordinance individual purporting exercise first amendment rights auditorium streets sidewalks la acts amending la rev stat cum supp dissent refers subdivision support view subdivision basis charges convictions intents purposes aimed trespassers government property post however subdivision also modified introductory clause whoever intent provoke breach peace circumstances breach peace may occasioned thereby thus establish violation subdivision refusal leave premises another order proved cf button garner louisiana opinion justice harlan conduct petitioners bare desire remain white lunch counter refusal police request move counter surely blind recognize petitioners sitting counters knew served order demonstrate race segregated dining facilities part country demonstration circumstances two cases much part free trade ideas abrams holmes dissenting verbal expression commonly thought speech like speech appeals good sense power reason applied public discussion whitney california brandeis concurring much public oration delivered soapbox street corner never limited right speak protected liberty fourteenth amendment gitlow new york mere verbal expression stromberg california thornhill alabama west virginia state board education barnette see also alabama act displaying red flag symbol opposition organized government liberty encompassed within free speech protected fourteenth amendment stromberg california supra act sitting privately owned lunch counter consent owner demonstration opposition enforced segregation surely within range protections public buildings often provide forum traditional forms first amendment activity verbal expression see thomas collins city hall terminiello chicago auditorium open public privately owned building dombrowski pfister watson city memphis see generally buchanan warley cooper aaron taylor louisiana wright georgia cox louisiana sheriff testified follows sheriff arrest people defendants considered action going library demonstration arrested occupants building asked leave public building refused leave tell went sheriff conversations people talked perkins told taken application asked leave asked leave henry brown told public library rest say anything brown mention anything wanting book constitution brown told public library say know anything said assured perkins asked leave since book wanted point ask leave also told choice leaving arrested leaving public building asked officer got sheriff anybody making noise noise prior asking defendants leave ask whether intended use library ask intended state time see wright georgia obviously one punished failing obey command officer command violative constitution ground reversal makes unnecessary decide whether subdivision embodies invidious discrimination contains following exemption othing herein contained shall apply bona fide legitimate labor organization legal activities picketing lawful assembly concerted activity interest members purpose accomplishing securing favorable wage standards hours employment working conditions brother black opinion cox louisiana found obstructing public passages statute la rev stat cum supp embody invidious discrimination forbidden equal protection clause fourteenth amendment contained exemption coverage labor union activities justice white concurring result clear record lingering public library minutes ordering wanted book contravened explicit statute ordinance library regulation general application even reasonably clear interlude receiving service departure exceeded generally contemplated normal use public library difficulty joining reversal case either events consider refusal leave library insistence upon violating generally applicable condition concerning use library evidence intent breach peace constitutionally sufficient sustain conviction deem first amendment forbid municipal regulation limiting loafing library reading rooms nothing kind comes record ordinance regulation hardly said brief sojourn parish library departed far common practice library users petitioners brief period asked leave quiet orderly interfered library users record reveals might considering among rest day think petitioners entitled time remained difficult believe group white members asked leave short notice much less asked leave sheriff arrested rather merely escorted building reluctance leave demonstrated library segregated institution habit allowing negroes building underlines situation view behavior petitioners use library building even though purposes demonstration depart significantly normal library use contemplate conclusion petitioners making normal authorized use public library requires reversal convictions petitioners entering library refusing forgo use library normally permitted members public evidence circumstances case intent breach peace moreover petitioners making use library normally permitted whites asked leave library quiet orderly exhibited threatening provocative behavior library segregated institution closed since incident involved case petitioners advised pick desired book blue bookmobile state arrested petitioners refused leave library offers convincing explanation asked leave record difficult avoid conclusion petitioners asked leave library negroes convictions deny equal protection laws justice black justice clark justice harlan justice stewart join dissenting believe provision constitution forbids one union including louisiana make unlawful stage public libraries purpose advertising objections state public policies however precisely least majority majority holds forbidden constitution dissent three opinions written majority five reverse convictions make necessary state relevant facts circumstances issues case view representatives congress racial equality core claimed negroes locked libraries operated jointly three louisiana parishes demonstration planned organization integrate library accordingly five petitioners negroes went audubon regional library located clinton louisiana saturday morning library county sheriff whose office courthouse within sight library building received information referring core going something going take place library morning noticed petitioners went office way library upon arrival library petitioners met inside building reeves assistant librarian courteously asked help way one group petitioner brown handed slip paper written title book said wanted reeves went shelves catalogues making search came back told brown library book request state library probably get told brown sat chair library room chair reeves desk four petitioners stood around petitioners leave reeves told group send book brown continued sit others continued stand asked leave leave reeves called perkins regional librarian told perkins situation perkins went brown told know whether understood request book asked sent state library along time brown said perkins constitution request copy constitution given perkins repeated request reeves petitioners leave library telling one seemed want something served minutes petitioners came library according perkins testimony call sheriff phone sheriff came library perkins explained reeves taken petitioners application book wanted book available reeves requested petitioners leave learning facts sheriff also asked petitioners leave library building stated arrest petitioners refused leave speaking group petitioner brown told sheriff going leave library thereupon sheriff immediately arrested petitioners library never talked unusually loud voices used bad language beyond brown request book library none petitioners time prior arrest requested service either librarians petitioner way seek read library otherwise use library facilities except sitting standing purposes clinton branch audubon regional library large one appears used almost entirely circulating reading library duty reeves assistant librarian according testimony disputed assist people come library select books check books keep shelves order keep record circulation day library lobby events case took place book shelves one table side also room desk chair librarian one chair two tables used mainly book display magazines policy library allow citizens library registration cards read cared according reeves testimony trial people read book want take go perkins testified maintain space perkins later referred lobby adult adult particular part louisiana statute petitioners convicted contrary implications opinions never previous time provides follows whoever intent provoke breach peace circumstances breach peace may occasioned thereby congregates others public building fails refuses move ordered law enforcement officer municipality authorized person shall guilty disturbing peace think crucial issues decided much narrower far less complicated prevailing opinion implies find necessary first point several matters discussed opinion judgment either irrelevant justify inferences drawn concluding reverse convictions prevailing opinion relies almost entirely three prior breach peace cases come state louisiana edwards south carolina think none four cases appreciable bearing hold case first cases garner louisiana decided december case involving demonstrations several lunch counters decided old louisiana breach peace statute section involved added old law events described case took place opinion old law considered garner contain phrase similar one consideration makes offense disturb peace congregating public building protest person rightfully charge building moreover majority garner construing old law noted presence new section expressly contrasted reach older statute significant differences garner case fact garner involved almost entirely different statute expressly distinguished present one opinion makes hard see garner holding provide meaningful support reversal convictions second louisiana breach peace case upon prevailing opinion relies reversal taylor louisiana case described today prevailing opinion concerned negroes waiting room bus depot reserved whites taylor short per curiam opinion held merely breach peace convictions supported evidence support charge petitioners violating custom segregated people waiting rooms according race contrary federal law indication case persons business whatever bus depot except stage public protest state policy constitutional right occupy depot space requested competent authorities leave case relied heavily prevailing opinion brother brennan cox louisiana case unlike one involved picketing patrolling streets correspondingly part louisiana breach peace statute prohibited certain kinds street activity language phase statute consideration relating congregating public buildings refusing move ordered authorized person way involved discussed cox problems state regulation streets one hand public buildings quite obviously separate distinct public buildings libraries schoolhouses fire departments courthouses executive mansions maintained perform certain specific vital functions order tranquillity sort entirely unknown public streets essential normal operation contrary implications prevailing opinion incomprehensible state must measure disturbances libraries streets identical standards furthermore vice discriminatory enforcement contaminates public street phase statute beset statute application activity public buildings public building unlike street peace quiet fast necessary rule result much less room peace officers abuse authority enforcing public building part statute brother brennan separate concurring opinion contention seems made cox declared unconstitutionally vague part louisiana statute cox convicted relating picketing streets also part creating offense petitioners convicted true means cox declared unconstitutional parts statute creating offenses involved cox case one also separate diverse offenses enumerated statute ranging making obscene remarks gestures causing disturbance public bus refusing leave private premises another asked owner holding broad placed great jeopardy every breach peace statute country think intended thing see nothing opinion cox concurring opinions one wrote indicates intention make sweeping condemnation breach peace statutes cox held unconstitutional part statute cox convicted construed louisiana authorized persons punished merely peacefully expressing unpopular views part statute involved makes offense congregate public building refuse leave asked authorized person affect threaten way exercise rights free speech louisiana courts construe phase statute construed part cox convicted phase statute scrutiny case clearly precisely regulates certain particular conduct language taken whole ambiguity whatever persons ordinary intelligence difficulty whatever knowing part statute requires move public building authorized person asks see petrillo conduct reached part statute refusal move requested authorized person conduct described words declared cox narrow specific since petitioners library business whatever constitution require permitted remain library despite state law contrary fourth case prevailing opinion cites indicating public building phase louisiana statute unconstitutional edwards south carolina holding edwards case however based fact statute construed narrowly drawn assure nondiscriminatory application part louisiana statute relating public buildings construed applied louisiana courts clearly describe offense nothing edwards read principle constitutional law state must permit public libraries dedicated reading learning studying used purpose conducting protests public private policies constitutional issue present case find nothing four cases case decided recall restricts louisiana power enforce part statute convictions rest order maintain peace order public libraries extremely necessary purposes underlying existence ii prevailing opinion extent two separate concurring opinions treat case though louisiana attempting enforce policy denying louisiana citizens right use state libraries account race whatever may policy state louisiana past may policy state present places circumstances simply racial discrimination practiced case petitioners treated every courtesy granted every consideration entitled audubon regional library asked book perhaps prevailing opinion suggests ritualistic ceremonial anything else lady charge nevertheless hunted book found sent later obtained state library petitioners use petitioner asked book none indicated wanted read book none attempted read book printed matter matter fact record shows prevailing opinion admits five petitioners stayed library use learning monuments protest voice disapproval thought policy state although perkins branch librarian testified unambiguously racial discrimination practiced library although record shows without slightest dispute discrimination kind character practiced petitioners least prevailing opinion brother white nevertheless implied several places equal treatment given petitioners kind subterfuge sham aspersions think wholly without justification prevailing opinion refers tidy plan state reference service given petitioners says may assume response constituted service need consider whether merely gambit ritual insinuates louisiana playing game petitioners rights courteous treatment given petitioners librarian degraded calling gesture service moreover refers state argument case giving piquant version affair see basis reason innuendos state defense convictions case state district attorney argued case us stated frankly forthrightly defense louisiana denied petitioners equal service public libraries account race denial must consider reversal merits iii best tell one ground upon prevailing opinion brother white rely reverse convictions state failed prove case conclusion appears based assumption louisiana statute properly construed conviction unless persons want library service stay unusually long time ordered leave make big noise use bad language engage fighting try provoke fight way become boisterous argument seems without blatant loud manifestation aggressive hostility exceedingly long sojourn public library circumstances foreseeably occasion breach peace louisiana construed statute goes common sense common understanding soft words undoubtedly turn away wrath may also provoke disturbers peace always rattle swords shout invectives high time challenge assumption many people long acquiesced groups think mistreated actually mistreated constitutional right use public streets buildings property protest whatever wherever whenever want without regard conduct may disturb phase louisiana statute considering intents purposes aimed trespassers government property addition subdivision louisiana law makes offense one refuse leave premises another requested owner provisions state statute however provide offense committed conduct must engaged intent provoke breach peace circumstances breach peace may occasioned thereby long history behind trespass laws invasion another man property protest one surest ways person pick disturb peace louisiana like state union right pass use laws based knowledge fact knowledge widespread prevalent probably difficult find hermit ignorant existence think evidence case established every element offense charged petitioners one disputes fact petitioners congregated public building refused move ordered authorized persons factual question possibly arise regarding application statute whether louisiana law petitioners either intended breach peace created circumstances breach might occasioned record shows petitioners part plan entered library stayed despite librarians protests normal activity completely disrupted sure grumbling white onlookers cox louisiana supra surely prevailing opinion futile effort rely cox meant grumbling onlookers must crowded library louisiana maintain action statute tiny parish branch library staffed two women department store garner louisiana supra bus terminal taylor louisiana supra public thoroughfare edwards south carolina supra cox short physical violence petitioners completely upset normal quiet functioning clinton branch audubon regional library state courts thought disturbance created petitioners constituted violation statute far reversal rests holding louisiana statute violated simply substitutes judgment louisiana courts conduct satisfies requirements state statute long way happened substitute judgment upsets settled doctrine concerning interpretation state statutes federal courts see garner louisiana supra kingsley pictures regents also builds shifting sands ignore realities life country iv already attempted hold wrongfully think convictions set aside unconstitutional complete lack evidence prove charge prevailing opinion ventures attempt decide constitutional questions says accordingly even accused action within scope statutory instrument required assess constitutional impact application hold statute constitutionally applied punish petitioners actions circumstances case constitutional doctrine actually prevails today first time history rests least great part interpretation first amendment carried fourteenth first amendment said past heart free government without liberty equality exist never thought think first amendment sustain startling doctrine prevailing opinion creates first amendment think protects speech writings expression views manner legitimately validly communicated never believed gives person group persons constitutional right go wherever want whenever please without regard rights private public property state law indeed majority said much cox louisiana though first amendment guarantees right assembly right petition along rights speech press religion guarantee person right use someone else property even owned government dedicated purposes stage express dissident ideas novel constitutional doctrine prevailing opinion nevertheless exalts power private nongovernmental groups determine use shall made governmental property power elected governmental officials nation prevailing opinion seems find comfort questionable assumption case claim made use library others disturbed demonstration perhaps time method carefully chosen mind reason saturday morning selected representative core testified aware one petitioners suggested thing lawyers petitioners fact trial responses sheriff questions asked petitioners lawyer indicate another patron library time petitioners sat stood even patrons instance new constitutional doctrine rather shakily established pretty clear organized protesters overlook chance go libraries disturb learn time demonstration activities obtain publicity prevailing opinion laments fact place events took place public library place dedicated quiet knowledge beauty lament fact reason deeply troubled fear powerful private groups throughout nation read action granting license invade tranquillity beauty libraries whenever quarrel state policy may may exist unhappy circumstance judgment group needed government equal laws equal justice encouraged believe best way advance cause worthy one taking law hands place place time time governments like formed substitute rule law rule force illustrations may given crowds gathered together peaceably reason extraordinarily good discipline reinforced vigilant officers demonstrations taken place without manifestations force time say crowd moved noble ideals today become mob ruled hate passion greed violence tomorrow ever doubted know peaceful songs love become stirring provocative marseillaise days noble revolution gave way rule successive mobs chaos set holding case today makes necessary ever stop look closely going affirm three separate opinions support reversal decision opinion brother fortas convenience call majority prevailing opinion joined chief justice brother douglas brothers brennan white concur result prevailing opinion reach result different grounds la rev stat cum supp see concurring opinion cox louisiana condition conduct punishable entered intent provoke breach peace circumstances breach peace may occasioned thereby context cox case relating activity public streets held language unconstitutionally vague pointed meant every disturbing peace statute contains language unconstitutional note describing book wanted petitioner brown gave reeves read wendall arna story negro bontems information apparently described printed book book obtained state library petitioners use story negro arna bontemps see dissenting opinion drivers union meadowmoor miss feingold task force worker core state first witness testified direct examination follows particular reason defendants going library saturday morning mean saturday opposed day yes