Document: 515 U.S. 557115 S.Ct. 2338132 L.Ed.2d 487 John J. HURLEY and South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, Petitioners,v.IRISH-AMERICAN GAY, LESBIAN AND BISEXUAL GROUP OF BOSTON, etc., et al. No. 94-749. Supreme Court of the United States Argued April 25, 1995. Decided June 19, Syllabus * Petitioner an unincorporated association individuals elected from various veterans groups, was authorized by city to organize conduct St. Patrick's Day-Evacuation Day Parade. The Council refused a place in 1993 event respondent GLIB, organization formed for purpose marching parade order express its members' pride their Irish heritage as openly gay, lesbian, bisexual individuals, show that there are such community, support like men women who sought march New York parade. GLIB some members filed this suit state court, alleging denial application violated, inter alia, law prohibiting discrimination on account sexual orientation places public accommodation. In finding violation ordering include parade, trial among other things, concluded had no common theme than involvement participants, that, given Council's lack selectivity choosing participants failure circumscribe marchers' messages, lacked any expressive purpose, GLIB's inclusion therein would not violate First Amendment rights. Judicial Massachusetts affirmed. Held: courts' accommodations require private citizens marchers group imparting message organizers do wish convey violates Amendment. Pp. ____. (a) Confronted with conclusion factual characteristics petitioners' activity it within realm non-expressive conduct, has constitutional duty independent examination record whole, without deference those courts, assure judgment does constitute forbidden intrusion field free expression. See, e.g., Times Co. v. Sullivan, 376 254, 285, 84 710, 729, 11 686. (b) selection contingents make is entitled protection. Parades form protected expression because they making sort collective point, just each but bystanders along way. Cf., Gregory Chicago, 394 111, 112, 89 946, 22 134. Moreover, protection limited parade's banners songs, extends symbolic acts. West Virginia Bd. Ed. Barnette, 319 624, 632, 642, 63 1178, 1182, 1187, 87 L.Ed. 1628. Although been rather lenient admitting speaker forfeit simply combining multifarious voices, failing edit themes isolate specific exclusive subject matter speech, or generate, original matter, item featured communication. Thus, petitioners under participation unit equally expressive, since celebrate identities related purposes. (c) not, general Fourteenth Amendments. Its provisions well legislature's power enact when reason believe being discriminated against. And statute face, target speech discriminate basis content. (d) court's application, however, effect declaring sponsors' itself be Since every participating affects conveyed organizers, peculiar essentially forced alter content thereby violated fundamental rule autonomy choose his own and, conversely, decide what say. Petitioners' claim benefit principle sound, selects units potential clearly decided exclude did communication chose make, enough invoke right shape speaking one while remaining silent another, interference. saved Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. FCC, 512 ----, 114 2445, 129 497. right; consist individual, unrelated segments happen transmitted together individual audience; assertion here speakers will destroyed absence law. Nor legitimate interest identified applying way done courts PruneYard Shopping Center Robins, 447 74, 87, 100 2035, 2044, 64 741, State Club Assn., City York, 1, 13, 108 2225, 2234, 101 distinguished. 418 Mass. 238, 636 N.E.2d 1293 (1994), reversed remanded. SOUTER, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. Chester Darling, petitioners. Ward, respondents. Justice SOUTER 1 issue case whether may convey. We hold mandate 2 March 17 set aside two celebrations Boston. As early 1737, people observed feast apostle Ireland, 1776 day marked evacuation royal troops Loyalists city, prompted guns captured at Ticonderoga up Dorchester Heights General Washington's command. Washington himself reportedly drew earlier tradition "St. Patrick" response "Boston," password used colonial lines day. See Crimmins, Day: Celebration American Places, 1737-1845, pp. 15, 19 (1902); see generally H.S. Commager & R. Morris, Spirit 'Seventy Six 138-183 (1958); Book Days 262-265 (J. Hatch ed., 3d ed. 1978). officially designate Evacuation until 1938, Mass.Gen.Laws § 6:12K (1992), previously sponsored Day, including notable commemorations centennial 1876, 125th anniversary 1901, salute, concert, fireworks display. Centennial Anniversary British Army (G. Ellis 1876); Irish-American Gay, Lesbian Bisexual Group al., Civ.Action 92-1516 (Super.Ct., Mass., Dec. 1993), reprinted App. Pet. Cert. B1, B8-B9. 3 formal sponsorship came end 1947, Mayor James Michael Curley granted authority Parade petitioner groups. Every year time, applied received permit which times included many 20,000 drawn million watchers. No applicant ever permit. Id., B9. Through 1992, allowed use city's official seal, provided printing services direct funding. 4 1992 number descendants immigrants joined supporters organization, demonstrate so descended, solidarity York's B3; 51. denied take part obtained state-court contingent, marched "uneventfully" year's 10,000 750,000 spectators. B3, n. 4. 5 1993, after again admit upcoming against "Wacko" Hurley, Boston, violations Federal Constitutions law, prohibits "any distinction, restriction . relative admission person to, treatment accommodation, resort amusement." 272:98. After "[f]or least past 47 years, traveled same basic route streets providing entertainment, amusement, recreation spectators alike," B5-B6, court ruled fell statutory definition includes open accepts solicits patronage limiting generality definition, (6) boardwalk highway [or] (8) recreation, sport, exercise entertainment," 272:92A. found written criteria employed particular procedures admission, voted new applications batches, occasionally admitted groups showed having submitted "not inquire into messages views applicant." consequently rejected contention "private" (in sense exclusive), holding instead "the genuine sponsors demonstrates event." B6. It "eclectic," containing wide variety "patriotic, commercial, political, moral, artistic, religious, athletic, service, trade union, eleemosynary themes," conflicting messages. B24. While noting indeed excluded Ku Klux Klan ROAR (an antibusing group), id., B7, attributed little significance these facts, concluding ultimately "[t]he only Parade," 6 exclusion "groups merely formalized [the fact] expresses traditional religious social values," "final position [to be] values message, i.e., orientation," B4, 5, citing Tr. Closing Arg. 43, 51-52 (Nov. 23, 1993). This position, view, violative "paradoxical" well, "a proper celebration requires diversity inclusiveness." notion trample rights understood "requir[e] focus theme, group" absent Ibid. "Given [Council's] message," "impossible discern entitling Amendment." B25. Council's] constitutionally association," "an recreational law." B27. 7 held prohibited based orientation, infringement "incidental" "no greater necessary accomplish statute's purpose" eradicating discrimination. B25, Roberts Jaycees, 468 609, 628-629, 104 3244, 3255-3256, 82 462 (1984). Accordingly, "GLIB participate terms conditions participants." B27.1 8 affirmed, seeing nothing erroneous judge's findings members, impossible detect action, accommodation meaning 242-248, 1293, 1295-1298 (1994).2 Turning freedom (as distinguished association, raised court), majority need theory involved "because, [trial] judge found, 'impossible Amend- ment.' " 249, N.E.2d, 1299 (footnote omitted). defendants thus failed level "to truly rights," 250, 1299, Clark Community Creative Non-Violence, 288, 293, 3065, 3069, 221 (1984), appeal indicated assessment evidence point erroneous, ibid. further challenge overbroad, regulate let officials examine interpreted reaching speech. 251-252, 1300. Finally, unconstitutionally vague, present gave persons ordinary intelligence reasonable opportunity know prohibited. 252, 1300-1301. 9 Nolan dissented. "does narrow distinct 256, 1303. First, he wrote, even if all, could upon it. 257, 1303, Wooley Maynard, 430 705, 717, 97 1428, 1436, 51 752 (1977) (state requirement display "Live Free Die" license plates Amendment). Second, according Nolan, erred devoid purpose. He have cannot barred excluding applicants share wishes advance. 257-259, 1303-1304, Under either pure associational theory, State's eliminating dissent, achieved more narrowly means, regardless preference, taking step editing expressed 258, 1302, 1304. Nolan's opinion, separable status narrower accommodate likelihood infringing clear error equation orientation. To dissent appeared false light "overwhelming evidence" objected dearth testimony documentation indicating bar admission. 260, accordingly 10 certiorari determine contingent expressing organizers' 513 115 714, 130 621 (1995). reverse. II Given scope issues originally case, worth fallen course litigation, before us. presents us claim, respondents not. Neither press action them equal laws guarantees guard encroachment government "erec[t] shield conduct," Shelley Kraemer, 334 68 836, 842, 92 1161 (1948); Hudgens NLRB, 424 507, 513, 96 1029, 1033, 196 (1976), argued purely private, character action. review led find otherwise, although squarely address issue, appears affirmed decision others. event, brought question cross-petition briefs When asked oral argument challenged Massachusetts' respondents' counsel answered "do here." Oral 22. Court, then, rests solely 12 There corresponding concession side, certainly characterization lacking element purposes our nature carries court. Bose Corp. Consumers Union States, Inc., 466 485, 499, 1949, 1958, 80 502 "requirement appellate federal law," 510, S.Ct., 1965, limit matters witness credibility, Harte-Hanks Communications, Connaughton, 491 657, 688, 109 2678, 2696, 105 562 (1989), "review facts where fact intermingled necessary, pass question, analyze facts," Fiske Kansas, 274 380, 385-386, 655, 656-657, 71 1108 (1927). also Niemotko Maryland, 340 268, 271, 325, 327, 95 267 (1951); Jacobellis Ohio, 378 184, 189, 1676, 1679, 793 (1964) (opinion Brennan, J.). obligation reaches defined embrace, we must ourselves falls near far side line Corp., supra, 503, 1961. Even tried provision Rule Civil Procedure 52(a) "[f]indings shall unless erroneous," obliged fresh crucial facts. Hence, though confronted vast 'make whole record,' th[is] expression." 686 omitted), quoting Edwards Carolina, 372 229, 235, 83 680, 683, 697 (1963). III A. 13 If were except reach destination, trip beyond itself. Some might call procession much one. Real "[p]arades dramas relations, performers define can actor subjects ideas available consideration." S. Davis, Power: Street Theatre Nineteenth-Century Philadelphia (1986). word "parade" indicate Indeed dependence watchers extreme nowadays, Bishop Berkeley's celebrated tree, "if demonstration receives media coverage, happened." 171. expression, motion, inherent expressiveness explains cases involving protest marches. 947, 134 (1969), example, taken grievances government, "march, peaceful orderly, sphere Similarly, (1963), pride, carrying placards singing Star Spangled Banner, activities "reflect most pristine classic form." Accord, Shuttlesworth Birmingham, 147, 152, 935, 939, 162 (1969). 14 inheres Constitution looks spoken words mediums Noting "[s]ymbolism primitive effective communicating ideas," 1628 (1943), recognized shields acts saluting flag (and refusing so), wearing arm band war, Tinker Des Moines Independent School Dist., 393 505-506, 733, 735-736, 21 731 displaying red flag, Stromberg California, 283 359, 369, 532, 535, 75 1117 (1931), "[m]arching, walking parading" uniforms swastika, National Socialist Party America Skokie, 432 2205, 53 (1977). examples show, narrow, succinctly articulable condition protection, confined expressions conveying "particularized cf. Spence Washington, 405, 411, 94 2727, 2730, 41 842 (1974) (per curiam ), never unquestionably shielded painting Jackson Pollock, music Arnold Schonberg, Jabberwocky verse Lewis Carroll. 15 Not marches, parades, them. Spectators streets; costumes uniforms, flags all sorts (e.g., "England get out Ireland," "Say drugs"); bands pipers play, floats pulled along, broadcast over television. Record, Exh. (video). sure, agree spite applicants, participants. But exact Nor, precedent, Cable operators, engaged select programming produced 2456, 497 (1994) (slip op., 11) ("Cable programmers cable operators engage transmit Amendment"). For presentation edited compilation generated staple newspapers' pages, which, course, fall core security, Miami Herald Publishing Tornillo, 241, 2831, 2840, 730 (1974), simple paid noncommercial advertisement daily paper, Times, U.S., 265-266, 718-719. similar 16 Respondents' expressive. very it, identity immigrants, B3. distributed sheet describing intentions, A51, otherwise corroborates participation, 84; A67 (photograph). behind shamrock-strewn banner inscription "Irish Boston." understandably seeks communicate existing staging own. B venerable history. At innkeepers, smiths, others "made profession employment," refusing, good reason, serve customer. Lane Cotton, Mod. 472, 484-485, 88 Eng.Rep. 1458, 1464-1465 (K.B.1701) (Holt, C.J.); Bell 226, 298, 17, 1814, 1853, 822 (Goldberg, concurring); Lombard Louisiana, 373 267, 277, 1122, 1127, 338 (1963) (Douglas, concurring). 19th century English judges put innkeeper guests[;] [h]e say one, you come my inn, another coming conducting manner received; innkeepers servants." Rex Ivens, Car. P. 213, 219, 173 94, (N.P.1835); M. Konvitz T. Leskes, A Century Rights 160 (1961). 18 War, Commonwealth first codify ensure access race. Act Forbidding Unjust Discrimination Account Color Race, 1865 Acts, ch. 277 (May 16, 1865); 155-56; L.G. Lerman Sanderson, Access Public Places: Survey Accommodations Laws, N.Y.U.Rev.L. Soc. Change 215, 238 (1978); F. Fox, Antidiscrimination Law, 44 B.U.L.Rev. 30, 58 (1964). "in licensed conveyance meeting," Mass.Acts, already expanded conferred Anderson, 248. statutes across Nation, legislature continued broaden legislation, today "race, color, creed, national origin, sex, ., deafness, blindness physical mental disability ancestry" Provisions usual discrimination, 11-16, 2233-2236, (1988); 624-626, 3253-3254, (1984); Heart Atlanta Motel, 379 258-262, 85 348, 358-360, 258 unusual obvious way, content, focal prohibition act discriminating publicly goods, privileges, proscribed grounds. C us, enforcement dispute about disclaim intent homosexuals such, member claims parading approved march. Instead, disagreement goes banner. B26-B27, 28. requiring spoke see, 247-248, 1297-1298, once both understood, becomes apparent approach shaped wished join Amendment, message. 20 "Since inherently involves choices leave unsaid," Pacific Gas Electric Utilities Comm'n Cal., 475 11, 106 903, 909, (1986) (plurality opinion) (emphasis original), important manifestation chooses speak "what say," 912. "prescribe orthodox commercial adver- tising" dissemination "purely uncontroversial information," Zauderer Office Disciplinary Counsel 471 626, 651, 2265, 2281, 652 (1985); Pittsburgh Press Human Relations, 413 376, 386-387, 93 2553, 2559-2560, 37 669 (1973), outside context compel affirmance belief disagrees, 1187. rule, tailor applies value, endorsement, statements avoid, McIntyre Ohio Elections Comm'n, 514 ---- - 1511, 1516, 131 426 (1995); Riley Federation Blind N.C., 781, 797-798, 2667, (1988), subject, perhaps, permissive defamation, 710; Gertz Robert Welch, 323, 347-349, 2997, 3010-3012, 789 (1974); Hustler Magazine, Falwell, 485 46, 876, 99 (1988). rule's restricted press, enjoyed business corporations unsophisticated professional publishers. someone's eyes misguided, hurtful. Brandenburg 395 444, 1827, 23 (1969); Terminiello 337 69 894, 1131 (1949). control one's sound Rather composer, score produce particularized contingent's comports merits view gives credit considered actively made, another. disfavored difficult identify. (like Council's) wholly articulate, organization's bear bisexual, presence organized suggest orientations unqualified acceptance heterosexuals around identifying characteristics. sexuality so, object gays lesbians wishing keep whatever boils down choice propound presumed lie government's control. Respondents argue tension between short unconstitutionality, recent compelled purposes, Broadcasting, 2445. reviewed regulations channels designated signals, intermediate scrutiny. 2469. contend threaten speaker's operator, conduit" "rather speaker." Brief Respondent 21. metaphor apt here, likely perceived resulted customary determination worthy quite possibly well. newspaper, similarly, "is passive receptacle conduit news, comment, advertising," material decisions made limitations size .—whether fair unfair editorial judgment" intrude. 2840. Indeed, Electric, invalidated coerced envelope utility's bill newsletter utility "may appear intruding leaflet] respond." 911 (plurality) (citation plurality [were] freely able political disagree, [of freedom] empty, affirm breath deny next." contrary intimately connected advanced, compromised. problem context, "[g]iven cable's long history serving risk viewers assume stations carried system endorsed operator." 2465. stressed viewer frequently apprised broadcaster whose signal via "common practice broadcasters viewpoint management facility." Ibid., 2466 omitted); 2480 (O'CONNOR, concurring dissenting part) (noting Congress "might conceivably obligate carriers channels"). 24 demonstrations, contrast, neutrally presented selectively viewed. Unlike offered network, audience. identifies itself, contribute something whereby disavow viewpoint" themselves selected Practice follows practicability disclaimers curious moving Cf. 741 (1980) (owner shopping mall "can expressly connection posting signs area handbillers stand"). Without deciding precise misattribution, nonetheless march, overall distilled presentations unit's whole. 25 An additional distinction points weakness attempt justify order's limitation speaker. transmission, franchised channel giving monopolistic shut speakers. rise allow survival silenced destroyed. alteration going abridgment defenders addressed threshold Speech Clause, ultimate scrutiny, compelling, important, governmental object, 913; 2469; O'Brien, 391 367, 377, 1673, 672 (1968). 26 comparable True, success makes enviable vehicle views, fact, more, supporting enjoy abiding monopoly B9; (citing permit). Considering presumably shot (under neutral developed city) obtaining own, shown capacity "silence voice competing speakers," respect program providers subscribers, 2466. 27 statute, 272:98, piece protective legislation announces provisions, prevent (or discriminatory in) grounds, On desiring old promised wanting meal accepting turned away proprietor's personal preference. modify extent beneficiaries further, end, exactly forbids. 28 might, broader objective apparent: forbidding toward certain classes society biases. Requiring means biases, classes, obviating future correction. decidedly fatal objective. Having availed thoroughfares "for assembly [and] thoughts citizens," "from ancient times, immunities, rights, liberties citizens." Hague Committee Industrial Organization, 307 496, 515, 59 954, 964, 1423 (1939) Roberts, Our commands takes street corner should interference says. Police Department Chicago Mosley, 408 92, 95, 2286, 2290, 33 212 (1972); H. Kalven, Jr., Worthy Tradition 6-19 O. Fiss, Social Structure, Iowa L.Rev. 1405, 1408-1409 idea acceptable or, indeed, people, grates amounts less proposal service Clause antithesis. 1187; 20, 914. promote harmful behavior, interfere better promoting discouraging however enlightened strike government. 29 Far reasons why sustained. So principal authorities cited. PruneYard, sustained proprietors malls visitors solicit signatures petitions showing owners running establishment go please," solicitations owner," "expressly stand." 2044. Also, 12, noted involve concern affect center owner's speak: owner allege pamphlets. ." threatened case. 30 Association instructive contrast provides. There, back facial antidiscrimination assumption dining club 400 sufficiently attenuated prohibit odds positions espoused memberships. 2234; 627, 3254. words, benefits access, activity; benefit, upheld, trespass strictly lines, lose. Assuming large source (apart expression) mandated provision, readily manifest club's members. IV 31 Nation's commitment protect Disapproval statement legitimize Commonwealth's remanded proceedings inconsistent opinion. 32 ordered. syllabus constitutes prepared Reporter Decisions convenience reader. Detroit Lumber Co., 200 321, 337, 282, 287, 50 499. dismissed actions amount inciting assisting B12-B13. want triggering proscriptions B14-B22. questions, apparently assumed arguments claims, too, depended apply B22. cross-appeal dismissal declined claims. 245, 1297.

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