Document: 339 U.S. 460 70 S.Ct. 718 94 L.Ed. 985 HUGHES et al.v.SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA IN AND FOR COUNTY CONTRA COSTA. No. 61. Argued Nov. 8—9, 1949. Decided May 8, 1950. Mr. Bertram Edises, Oakland, Cal., for petitioner. Frank S. Richards, San Francisco, respondents. Justice FRANKFURTER delivered the opinion of Court. 1 Does Fourteenth Amendment Constitution bar a State from use injunction to prohibit picketing place business solely in order secure compliance with demand that its employees be proportion racial origin then customers? Such is broad question this case. 2 The petitioners, acting on behalf group calling themselves Progressive Citizens America, demanded Lucky Stores, Inc., it hire Negroes at grocery store near Canal Housing Project Richmond, California, as white clerks quit or were transferred, until Negro approximated customers. At time controversy about 50% customers Negroes. Upon refusal and compel compliance, was systematically patrolled by pickets carrying placards stating refused 3 Suit begun enjoin appropriate allegations equitable relief. Superior Court Contra Costa County issued preliminary restraining petitioners others any Lucky's stores 'the selective hiring negro clerks, such based who patronize plaintiff's stores.' In face injunction, continued picket store, reading: 'Lucky Won't Hire Clerks Proportion Trade—Don't Patronize.' conformity procedure, found guilty contempt 'wilfully disregarding' sentenced imprisonment two days fined $20 each. They defended their conduct challenging deprivation liberty assured them Due Process Clause Amendment. intermediate appellate court annulled judgment contempt, Cal.App., 186 P.2d 756, but reinstated review Supreme California. That held conceded purpose case—to customers—was unlawful even though pursued peaceful manner. Having violated valid properly punishable contempt. 'The controlling points,' according decision 'are limited prohibiting specific evidence justified trial finding narrow prohibition deliberately violated.' 32 Cal.2d 850, 856, 198 885, 888. We brought case here consider claims infringement right freedom speech guaranteed 336 966, 69 930. 4 First. Discrimination against employment has variety legal issues before recent years. Graham v. Brotherhood Locomotive Firemen Enginemen, 338 232, 14; Railway Mail Ass'n Corsi, 326 88, 65 1483, 89 2072; Steele Louisville & N.R. Co., 323 192, 226, 173; Tunstall 210, 235, 187; New Alliance Sanitary Grocery 303 552, 304 542, 58 703, 82 1012. See also Myrdal, An American Dilemma cc. 13—14 (1944). discrimination raises sociological problems which some aspects within limits have received solutions. California been sensitive these decisions hostile basis color. James Marinship Corp., 25 721, 155 329, 160 A.L.R. 900; Williams International Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders Helpers 27 586, 165 903. This background California's policy relevant conviction would encourage discriminatory give constitutional protection petitioners' efforts subject opportunity getting job quota system. view best expressed own words: 5 'It just situation—an arbitrary upon race color alone, rather than choice individual qualification work done—which we condemned case, supra, (25 737, 745, 329). fact those seeking do not practiced all employes particular employer diminishes no respect unlawfulness purpose; they would, extent fixed proportion, make dependent fitness nor an equal all, regardless race, compete open market, rather, membership race. If upheld other races, white, yellow, brown red, rights basis. Yet precisely type avowedly object.' 889. 6 These considerations are most pertinent regard population made up so many diverse groups ours. To deny ban circumstances mean there could pressure proportional ancestral grounds Hungarians Cleveland, Poles Buffalo, Germans Milwaukee, Portuguese Bedford, Mexicans Antonio, numerous minority York, through whole gamut religious concentrations various cities. States may well believe sheltering inevitably discrimination. disallowing act under belief otherwise community tensions conflicts exacerbated. differences cultural traditions instead adding flavor our common citizenry might hardened into hostilities leave law. does element communication prevail over mischief furthered situations. 7 Second. '(T)he domain liberty, withdrawn encroachment states,' Palko Connecticut, 302 319, 327, 149, 153, 288, doubt includes thought means expressing it. But while mode inseparably something more different. Industrial 'is free speech, since involves patrol locality very presence line induce action one kind another, quite irrespective nature ideas being disseminated.' Douglas, joined Black Murphy, JJ., concurring Bakery Pastry Drivers Local 802 Teamsters Wohl, 315 769, 775, 776, 62 816, 819, 86 1178. Publication newspaper, distribution circulars, convey same information charge patrolling line. exert influences, produces consequences, different modes communication. loyalties responses evoked exacted lines unlike flowing appeals printed word. Gregory, Labor Law 346—48 (rev. ed. 1949); Teller, Picketing Free Speech, 56 Harv.L.Rev. 180, 200 02 (1942); Dodd, Speech: A Dissent, 513, 517 (1943); Hellerstein, Legislation Courts, 10 N.C.L.Rev. 158, 186—87, n. 135 (1932). 8 Third. constitutionally permit despite ingredients differentiate ordinary context. Senn Tile Layers Protective Union, 301 468, 57 857, 81 1229. And because finds sanction Thornhill Alabama, 310 60 736, 84 1093; Federation Swing, 312 321, 61 568, 85 855; 1178; Cafeteria Employees Union Angelos, 320 293, 64 126, 88 58. However general loose language opinions, situations controlled decision. It amply recognized picketing, equivalent matter fact, inevitable equivalent. beyond control if manner conducted seeks effectuate gives ground disallowance. Dorchy Kansas, 272 306, 47 86, 71 248; Milk Wagon Chicago, 753 Meadowmoor Dairies, 287, 836, 132 1200; Hotel Restaurant Employees' Alliance, 122 Wisconsin Employment Relations Board, 437, 706, 946; Carpenters Joiners 213 Ritter's Cafe, 722, 807, 1143; Giboney Empire Storage Ice 490, 684; 'A state required tolerate places individual.' page 9 boundary between competing interests society involved cannot established phrases. when numbers carry threat violence lawful end. Steel Foundries Tri-City Central Trades Council, 257 184, 206—207, 42 72, 77, 66 189, 360. suggested distinction promote discrimination, here, discrimination: assumed purposes decision, without deciding, exists, protest objective.' 855, construe precluding securing involuntary systematic subvert policy. supra. Fourth. judicial organ legislature repeatedly ruled immaterial.* Castillo McConnico, 168 674, 684, 18 229, 233, 622; Hebert Louisiana, 312, 316, 103, 104, 270, 48 1102; Nashville, C. St. L.R. Co. Browning, 362, 369, 968, 972, 1254; Skiriotes Florida, 313 69, 79, 924, 930, 1193; Snowden Hughes, 321 1, 11, 397, 402, 497. For leaves distribute powers government will legislative branches. Dreyer People Illinois, 187 71, 83—84, 23 28, 32, 79; Soliah Heskin, 222 522, 524, 294; Erie R. Board Public Util. Com'rs, 254 394, 413, 41 169, 172, 322; Prentis Atlantic Coast Line 211 225, 29 67, 53 150; Keller Potomac Elec. Power 261 428, 443, 43 445, 448, 67 731. '(R)ights amendment turn power state, what acts.' Missouri Dockery, 191 165, 170—171, 24 53, 54, 133, 63 L.R.A. 571. 11 right, desirability, fitting law 'to concrete situation authority given * courts.' 297, 557, 1200. particularly important bear mind matters affecting industrial relations which, recently, 'been left largely lawmaking legislation.' 213, 724, 808, 1143. charging courts evolving formulating statute, availed itself law-making sources, day Coke's hath provided several weapons remedy.' Coke, Compleat Copyholder § Three Tracts (1964). chose strike inherent system remedy protect unwilling submission among armory law.' Tigner Texas, 141, 148, 879, 882, 1124, 130 1321. 12 rely good play conflicting unregulated. Contrariwise, deem wiser regulate. Regulation take form legislation, e.g., restraint trade statutes, ad hoc process, dealing restraints trade. Either method outlaw end public interest merely address obvious toward regulation should scope surely and, such, State's choice. 13 compulsive features aspect mere appeal reason, chooses business, need forbid adopt his will. exercise intervention abstract reasoning. commands neither logical symmetry exhaustion principle. practical ones justify, require, rough accommodations, illogical, be, unscientific.' Metropolis Theatre 228 61, 69—70, 33 441, 730. 'direct deems evil actually exists covering field possible abuses, none less forbidden differ allowed.' Lumber South Dakota, 226 157, 160, 66, 164. Lindsley Natural Carbonic Gas 220 81, 31 337, 341, 55 Ann.Cas.1916C, 160; Keokee Consolidated Coke Taylor, 234 224, 227, 34 1288; Miller Wilson, 236 373, 384, 35 342, 344, 59 628, L.R.A.1915F, 829; Farmers Merchants Bank Monroe, N.C. Federal Reserve Bank, 262 649, 661—662, 651, 656, 1157, 30 635; James-Dickinson Farm Mortgage Harry, 273 119, 125, 308, 310, 569; National Jones Laughlin 46, 615, 893, 108 1352. Lawmaking essentially empirical tentative, adjudication legislation 'cautious advance, step step, distrust generalities.' Carroll Greenwich Insurance 199 401, 411, 26 50 246. 14 drawn meet deemed bring hiring. go Generalizations treacherous application large concepts. 15 Affirmed. 16 BLACK MINTON principles announced therefore concur Court's judgment. 17 REED, concurring. I read hold sought favor persons barred State. 684. 19 DOUGLAS took part consideration range proscribing permitting ends illustrated bill passed York Legislature votoed Governor Dewey. N.Y. Times, Apr. 1950, p. 21, col. 1.

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