Document: 375 U.S. 136 84 S.Ct. 235 11 L.Ed.2d 208 Israel DRESNER et al., Petitioners,v.CITY OF TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA. No. 35. Argued Oct. 23, 1963. Decided Dec. 2, Howard Dixon, Miami, Fla., and Carl Rachlin, New York City, for petitioners. Edward J. Hill Roy T. Rhodes, Tallahassee, respondent. PER CURIAM. 1 Considering that there are questions of Florida law answers to which necessary enable this Court determine its jurisdiction over cause, with respect appear be no precise controlling precedents in the decisions Supreme Florida, desires certify pursuant Rule 4.61 Appellate Rules, 31 F.S.A., stated hereafter. 2 The petitioners have been tried convicted Municipal Tallahassee unlawful assembly, under a municipal ordinance incorporates by reference state assembly statute.1 convictions were affirmed Circuit Second Judicial District, Leon County, Florida.2 unreported opinion court, copy which, taken from record, is attached certificate as an Appendix, contains statement facts on rested. sought certiorari Court, City opposed ground, inter alia, judgment was not 'rendered highest court State decision could had,' required 28 U.S.C. § 1257. This granted certiorari, 372 963, 83 1087, 10 128, subsequently directed counsel file briefs jurisdictional issue, done. 3 are: 4 1. On timely petition writ or other process, does District Appeal any review affirming conviction violation statute reference, where presented concern federal constitutionality face applied? 5 2. If such had case way would it empowered consider fully each following contentions, all indisputably properly preserved: 6 (a) 'Petitioners peaceable orderly at times; hence, evidence whatsoever support below therefore Petitioners denied due process Fourteenth Amendment'; 7 (b) 'The constituted Petitioners' rights freedom speech guaranteed (c) arrests herein undue burden interstate commerce clause Federal Constitution'; 8 (d) denial equal protection laws Amendment'? 9 not, what respects scope limited? Clerk transmit certificate, signed Chief Justice official seal simultaneously copies thereof attorneys respective parties. APPENDIX. 12 OPINION THE CIRCUIT COURT SECOND JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, LEON COUNTY, FLORIDA.* 13 Order Affirming Judgments. 14 appeal ten appellants named caption who charged assembly. A fine assessed against them alternative jail sentence. 15 formal charge single count naming three others1 defendants alleges June 16, 1961 'in that, they being more than (3) persons, met together commit breach peace, acting concertedly occupy continuously certain chairs seating facilities Airport, making cancelling group airline reservations two (2) operating schedules departing said date, 15, 1961, meeting concert attendant circumstances calculated excite alarm, endanger public peace fear, nature inspire well-grounded fear persons reasonable courage, riot, breaches while so unlawfully assembled' commanded police officer city, after identifying himself such, immediately peaceably disperse, refused neglected do so. 16 contend judgments violate their United States Constitutions deprived liberty property ut law. They statute, Chap. 61—237, Laws (F.S. 870.04, F.S.A.), (which, adoption ordinance,2 made Tallahassee) unconstitutional void, either has applied case. 17 pertinent portions adopted ordinance, 18 'If number * unlawfully, riotously tumultuously assembled city municipality shall go among name command disperse; if thereupon (officer) assistance seizing, arresting securing custody; person present when depart place, refuses neglects so, he deemed one assembled, may prosecuted punished accordingly.' 19 dispute squarely question whether conduct exercise hold constitutional provisions, preclude prosecution, sentence trial court. 20 clergymen, rabbis others ordained ministers several Protestant denominations. residents Jersey, York, Massachusetts Connecticut. Some white race some negroes. About 13, they, eight clergymen same general area, departed Washington, D.C. common carrier bus so-called 'Freedom Ride' into Virginia, Carolinas, Georgia, Florida. ride terminated 1961. Riders' left buses Greyhound terminal went lunch room obtain food served them. 21 trip sponsored least partially financed organization known CORE (Congress Racial Equality) aggressive promoting racial integration desegregation. well publicized, having given wide coverage news media including radio television. time place arrival heralded known. 22 purposes Ride', appellant Collier, spokesman group, two-fold: (1) To ascertain available integrated basis passengers waiting rooms, rest eating terminals through pass; bear witness ministers, struggle those 'guaranteed us Constitution.' 23 Shortly prior bearing scheduled arrive about noon gathered vicinity station groups persons. Law enforcement officers, police, dispatched area prevent disturbance. It suspected resentment might result attempts violence toward precipitate disorders. When arrived, personnel moved gave entered terminal. Apparently lunchroom pol cies satisfactory 24 In approximately hour eighteen proceeded Airport ostensibly purpose boarding 3:25 P.M. Eastern Air Lines plane passage Newark, York. transported airport private cars presumably furnished local sympathizers objectives. 25 Upon found restaurant closed. approached cancelled reservation previously flight. boarded arrived destinations East. 26 At time, arrangement provided separate areas, negro; also rooms; areas serving food, glassedin negro consisting counter stools. However, mentioned before, service discontinued closing facilities. sandwich vending machine lobby, but prices marked up previous prices. 27 stayed less compact lobby most attempt enforce separation races room. Rest rooms used without observing designation segregated After flight ultimately obtained next morning 8:25 E.A.L. plane. remained until 11:00 evening open 29 detailed keep order. activities objectives subject reporting people seen gathering attempting gather airport. There critical hostile comments appellants. turned away apparent business interest. Persons even screened entrance officers transact 30 chief advised close night 11:45 requested return morning. Such escort provided. thus 15th departure A.M. reservations. security both occasions leaving returning 32 closed 16. 8:15 departed. 8:20 sought, obtained, National Airlines 1:47 day, just noon. 33 During these periods continued movements gatherings hostility attitudes considerable sheriff's deputies highway patrolmen disorder. county officials, Governor, apprehensive provide preserve 34 12:15 P.M., Mr. James Messer, Jr., attorney specia conferring mayor inquired leader group. Appellant Collier arose identified assumed act spokesman. Messer his positions, exhibiting badge. Others around Rev. read proclamation. He will tend create disturbance incite riot disorderly within jurisdiction. incidents fears unrest. then explained meant property. added failure disperse arrest asserted passengers, replied did bona fide view cancellations. 35 Several dispersed, failed 1/2 minutes, Police remarked 'Chief, you can carry out your orders.' arrested custody. 36 take segregation practices regard facilities, violative guarantees inject installation cigarette machines, arrival, inflated merchandise vended double been. day opening shortly viewed important factor. 37 These are, significant legal problems involved disposition 38 operates proprietary capacity governmental capacity. Among functions ownership operation supervision concessions there. Assuming, deciding, policies constitute duty enforced them, further assuming, violated justify concerted protest demonstration views protracted period during tensions tempers rise community threaten erupt disorder render capacity, powerless terminate power? 39 Stated another way, lawful protesting demonstrating opposition course policy practiced become pursued unreasonable lengths imposing burdens others, fairly accomplished? 40 fundamental our constitutions accord citizen right redress grievances. freedoms jealously guarded exercised good faith order lawfully, interfered action. license one's own hands excessive harassment, effect coercion acceptance interpre ations entities whose conflict. procedures wholly ignore very machinery nation declaring, rights. courts, federal, whom resort readily citizens seek recognition immunities. That courts move swiftly individual wish authorize pursuit personal means unnecessarily disorder, sustaintially interfere normal, facility. 41 procedure form anarchy becomes accepted practice, only seriously weakening government. 42 appellants, reading achieved announced observed lack room, effectively borne otherwise sympathy desegregation various travel. 43 accommodate facilitate legitimate agencies potential individuals resented afforded station, afternoon come town returned purportedly early instead using otained cancellation. thrice last minute cancellations sole reason wished eat restaurant, meantime persistence arousing increased anger threats 44 Obviously, revealed pattern. make travel, wait before cancel, later again cancel minute, times remaining never taking obvious. seats occupied use actually wash partakes lodging comfort feature business. space prevented flights involved, resulting loss inconvenience air line probable would-be travelers space. harassment goad lessee gratify appellants' wishes style manner right. 45 Controversies between units unique. nearly every instance conflict contends claim entity deny validity claim. freely express cultivate converts bringing moral political pressures body demands. must harmful community. Especially true controversy interest strong d emotional feelings part substantial 46 resolve controversies issues duly instituted processed civil actions. Indeed, issue demonstrations adjudicated Northern Brooks, al. v. D.C., 202 F.Supp. 56. press behalf cause (however worthy deem be) beyond bounds delivering message reach stage materially harmfully capacities, carrying unlawful. here. 47 appealed hereby affirmed. 48 Affirmed. 49 BEN C. WILLIS, Judge. Section 23—38 Code, provides recognized misdemeanor. Chapter Statutes provides: armed county, municipality, sheriff deputies, constable justice mayor, commissioner, councilman, alderman member florida (sic) patrol, near safety, aid assist seizing rioter unlawfuly suppressing obey command, or, rioters refers brief specifically prohibiting included record stipulation similar substance quoted above. parties seemingly premise incorporated statute. plainly decided basis. See p. 237. directly ruled lacked ordered transferred Court. 134 So.2d 228. filing attempted file, withdrew, Appeal. Entered August 1962. (Footnote supplied.) Of acquitted nolle prosequi. (Original footnotes renumbered.) Sec. 23—38, penalty maximum $500.00 60 days imprisonment both.

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