Legal Document

340 U.S. 315 71 Supreme Court Reporter 303 95 L.Ed. 295 FEINERv.PEOPLE OF STATE NEW YORK. Number 93. Argued Oct. 17, 1950. Decided Jan. 15, 1951. Messrs. Sidney or Haw. Hawai‘i Reports KFH45 A2 Greenberg, Syracuse, N.Y., Emanuel Redfield, New York City, for petitioner. Mr. David Judge Kelly, Washington, D.C., respondent. Chief Justice VINSON delivered the opinion of Court. 1 Petitioner was convicted offense disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor under penal laws, in Special Sessions City Syracuse and sentenced to thirty days county penitentiary. The conviction affirmed by Onondaga County Appeals, 1950, 300 N.Y. 391, 91 North Eastern Reporter, 2nd Series 316. case is here on certiorari, 339 962, 70 987, petitioner having claimed that violation his right free speech Fourteenth Amendment. 2 In review state decisions where First Amendment rights are drawn question, we course make an examination evidence ascertain independently whether has been violated. Here, trial judge, who heard without jury, rendered oral decision at end trial, setting forth determination facts upon which he found guilty. His indicated generally believed state's witnesses, summation testimony used two courts stating facts. Our appraisal is, therefore, based uncontroverted and, controversy exists, judge did reasonably conclude be true. 3 On evening March 8, 1949, Irving Feiner addressing open-air meeting corner South McBride Harrison Streets Syracuse. At approximately 6:30 p.m., police received telephone complaint concerning meeting, officers were detailed investigate. One these went scene immediately, other arriving some twelve minutes later. They crowd about seventy-five eighty people, both Negro white, filling sidewalk spreading out into street. Petitioner, standing large wooden box sidewalk, through loud-speaker system attached automobile. Although purpose urge listeners attend held night Hotel, its making derogatory remarks President Truman, American Legion, Mayor local political officials. 4 made no effort interfere with petitioner's speech, but first concerned effect pedestrian vehicular traffic. observed situation from opposite side street, noting pedestrians forced walk street avoid crowd. Since traffic passing time, attempted get people listening back sidewalk. restless there pushing, shoving milling around. telephoned station nearby store, then policemen crossed mingled any intention arresting speaker. 5 this speaking 'loud, high-pitched voice.' He gave impression endeavoring arouse against whites, urging they rise up arms fight equal rights. statements before such mixed audience 'stirred little excitement.' Some onlookers their inability handle least one threatened violence if not act. There others appeared favoring arguments. Because feeling existed speaker, finally 'stepped prevent it resulting fight.' approached petitioner, him, him break asked down off box, latter refused accede request continued talking. officer waited minute demanded cease had thus twice requested stop over several minutes, only ignored During all pressing closer around officer. Finally, told arrest ordered reaching grab him. stepped down, announcing microphone 'the law arrived, & N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions suppose will take now.' all, three times space four five minutes. half hour. 6 facts, specifically charged § 722 Penal Law York, Mc.K.Consol. Laws, chapter 40, pertinent part set margin.1 bill particulars, furnished State, detail prosecution relied support charge conduct. Paragraph Contract particularly here: 'By ignoring refusing heed obey reasonable orders issued time place mentioned Information regulate control said breach breaches peace injury attempting use walk, being highway adjacent public generally.' 7 We faced blind condonation court arbitrary action. accorded full, fair trial. supporting contradicting judgment clear danger disorder threatened. After weighing contradictory evidence, reached conclusion justified taking action peace. exercise officers' proper discretionary power approved later review.2 below recognized hold locality, loud-speaking equipment giving officials Legion. motivated solely concern preservation order protection general welfare, could lend color claim acts cover suppression views opinions. neither arrested nor content speech. Rather, reaction actually engendered. 8 language Cantwell versus State Connecticut, 1940, 310 296, 60 900, 84 1213, appropriate here. 'The known as embraces great variety conduct destroying menacing tranquility. It includes violent words likely produce others. would have hardihood suggest principle freedom sanctions incitement riot religious liberty connotes privilege exhort physical attack those belonging another sect. When present riot, disorder, interference streets, immediate threat safety, peace, order, appears, punish obvious.' page 308, 905. findings condition refusal requests, supported record case, persuasive authority does exceed bounds This respects, must, interest community maintaining streets. Schneider Jersey, Town Irvington, 1939, 308 147, 160, 146, 150, 155; Kovacs Cooper, 336 77, 82, 69 448, 451, 93 513. cannot say encroaches constitutional 9 well aware ordinary murmurings objections hostile allowed silence also mindful possible overzealous complete discretion otherwise lawful meetings. 'A may unduly suppress communication views, other, guise conserving desirable conditions.' supra, 905, 1213. But situation. thing instrument unpopular that, when speaker passes argument persuasion undertakes powerless Nor can condemn considered approving means police, crisis, duty preserve order. existing imminence greater coupled deliberate defiance convince us should reverse name 10 Affirmed. 11 FRANKFURTER concurs result. 12 For concurring see 268, 328. 13 BLACK, dissenting. 14 convinces me young college student, penitentiary expressed1 matters while lawfully street-corner York.2 Today's decision, however, indicates must ourselves fact because fully accepted witnesses important points.3 Many past despite below, examine federally protected denied; fail safeguarding guarantees.4 Even partial abandonment rule marks dark day civil liberties our Nation. 15 still more lost today. accepting every 'finding fact' think makes mockery guarantees Amendments. result affirmance approve simple readily available technique cities states impunity subject speeches, otherwise, streets elsewhere, supervision censorship police. parcel holding view long step toward totalitarian authority. 16 Considering appear accepted, 'facts' are: city authorities granted permit O. John Rogge, former Assistant Attorney General, speak school building 1948 racial discrimination liberties. 8th, cancelled permit. Young Progressives whose auspices scheduled arranged Rogge Hotel gathering spoke protest cancellation publicize hotel. connection, profane reference authorities, Truman hearing remarks, policeman, sent superiors, reported Police Headquarters telephone. To whom what record, after returning call, policeman started Both swore intend started, statements. said, believed, saw 'angry mutterings,' 'pushing,' 'shoving around' 'restlessness.' high pitched siad colored 'don't them.'5 man 'S...O...B...' would. time. them 'asked' Rogge's next 'told' not. 'demanded' telling arrest. arrived over' why arrested. replied 'unlawful assembly' changed ground 'disorderly conduct.'6 17 Court's apparently rests reasoning: circumstances detailed, serious fighting even imminent; therefore peace; accordingly, conduct' continue disobedience officer's request. As existence dangerous corner, seems farfetched show imminent uncontrollable disorder.7 unusual unexpected meetings mutter, mill about, push, shove, disagree, violently, Indeed, rare controversial topics discussed outdoor do things. isolated assault forebode disorder. Especially discounted where, here, person threatening wife small children accompanied who, so far shows, never close enough carry threat. 18 Moreover, assuming indicate critical situation, reject implication obligation protect talk. if, preserving ever efforts him.8 Here pretend try According testimony, showing attempt quiet it; path sidewalk; nothing discourage word might sufficed. Their talk, extent interfere.9 Instead, shirked acted speak. 19 agree statement disregard policeman's unexplained amounted 'deliberate defiance' justify contrary, official allows, courtesy explanation commands basic elements good democratic society. 'commanded' speaking, address certainly required silent merely directs it. entitled know doing Not once told. understand authoritarian countries orders. hoped United States. 20 my judgment, today's practical matter, minority speakers silenced city. Hereafter, Amendments, club heavy toll current administration's critics.10 Criticism too most courageous.11 true regardless cases decided day, Kunz People 290, 312; Niemotko Maryland, 325, majority, obedience Court, provides theoretical safeguard whatever thought guaranteed taken away done read together mean previous restraints probably imposed soon customary hostility develops. 21 conviction, thereby adhering principles Amendments announced 1940 Roberts: 22 'In realm faith, belief, sharp differences arise. fields tenets seem rankest error neighbor. persuade own point view, pleader, know, times, resorts exaggeration, vilification men been, are, prominent church state, false statement. nation ordained light history, spite probability excesses abuses, essential enlightened citizens democracy.' 310, 906, 23 regret pursuade retreat principle. 24 DOUGLAS, MINTON concurs, 25 Feiner, university 1949. America evening. A authorizing auditorium revoked shifted 26 shopping area predominantly residential section stood loudspeakers mounted car. composed 75 white. few arrived. 27 mainly devoted publicizing evening's protecting revocation touched various issues. following excerpts revealed record: 28 'Mayor Costello (of Syracuse) champagne-sipping bum; negro people.' 29 15th Ward run corrupt politicians, horse rooms operating there.' 30 'President bum.' 31 O'Dwyer 32 Legion Nazi Gestapo.' 33 negroes don't rights; rights.' 34 pushing angry muttering. That fights 'disorder' standards heckling 35 officers, 'If you son bitch off, go myself.' speaking; refused, 36 Public assemblies occupy role life. function gatherings causes sponsored platform, commonly mutterings unrest mounts platform find resorting ideas men, charges. extravagances, emphasized penalizing depriving punishing 37 not, course, incite than 'fighting words'. See Chaplinsky Hampshire, 568, 62 766, 86 1031. shows extremes. unsympathetic haul stage. kind need protection. If receive instead throw weight meetings, become new censors vices halls repeatedy struck down. Lovell Griffin, 444, 58 666, 82 949; Hague C.I.O., 307 496, 59 954, 83 1423; supra; Murdock Commonwealth Pennsylvania, 319 105, 63 891, 87 1292; Saia 334 558, 68 1148, 92 1574. 722. Any intent provoke whereby occasioned, commits shall deemed committed conduct: '1. Uses offensive, disorderly, threatening, abusive insulting language, behavior; '2. Acts manner annoy, disturb, with, obstruct, offensive others; '3. Congregates refuses move police; * *.' Appeals said: 'An disturbance perhaps defendant, above, disrupted knowledge consequences, inflamed agitated sympathizers opponents present, Defendant deliberately officer, within scope authority, defendant desist welfare safety.' 400, 402, 316, 319, 321. framed question follows: done? And doesn't difference loud individual engage gathered particular determine sufficient charge.' suggestion 'did' anything (1) (2) short invite speaking. prohibited held. Evidence showed same Friday night, admitted understood one. treat unlawful congregated Consequently, discussion traffic, suggestive coloration, immaterial implied sound amplifiers way caused less lawful. fact, sentencing 'You perfect implement, You street.' note 1, supra. such. bench which, among things, expressed evidence. 11, infra. Norris Alabama, 294 587, 55 579, 79 1074, Negroes discriminated selection grand juries conflicting. Hughes, writing pages 589—590, 580: application established (equal protection) disclosed record. relieve truth federal denied. specially court, province inquire denied express terms substance effect. requires made. Otherwise, Thus, whenever intermingled former, incumbent analyze enforcement assured.' numerous others: Truax Corrigan, 257 312, 324, 42 124, 126, 66 254; Hooven Allison company Evatt, 324 652, 659, 65 870, 874, 89 1252; Chambers Florida, 309 227, 228, 472, 473, 716; Pierre Louisiana, 306 354, 358, 536, 538, 757; Pennekamp 328 331, 335, 1029, 1031, 90 1295; Patton Mississippi, 332 463, 466, 184, 186, 76; Craig Harney, 331 367, 373, 67 1249, 1546; Oyama California, 633, 636, 269, 270, 249; Pollock Williams, 322 4, 13, 64 792, 797, 88 1095; Fay 261, 272, 1613, 1619, 2043; Akins Texas, 325 398, 401, 1276, 1278, 1692; Kansas Southern R. C. Albers commission Co., 223 573, 591, 320, 56 556; National Bank Hartford, Wisconsin 273 548, 552, 47 462, 767; Fiske Kansas, 274 380, 385, 655, 656, 1108; Great Northern 154, 165—167, 57 397, 403, 81 573. varying phraseology hesitated necessary right. Compare Taylor 583, 585—586, 1200, 1201, 1202, 1600. am although believe demonstrates rather conclusively phrase 'in arms' testified officers. Reliable 'could going arm black white alike, hear Rogge.' contained subject; added counsel permitted objection, propound leading questions. event, ascribed clearly rhetorical context. using cause convenient catchall soapbox orators.' Chafee, Free Speech States, 524. related conducting house' views. example, English statute 1799 classified houses certain unlicensed places ('House, Room, Field, Place') 'any Lecture Discourse publickly delivered, publick Debate Subject *' 'for Purpose reading Books, Pamphlets, Newspapers, Publications 39 Geo. III, 79, 15. belief accordingly given much Two illustrations suffice: specific interfered 'getting unruly.' patently inadmissible excluded instances favorable ruling. Secondly, stated warned 'blare provocative utterances milling, throng unable unless unsworn arguments assistant district attorney principal witness 'kept (the audience) answered 'No' highly immediately followed, 'Did arming time?' Cf. Terminiello Chicago, 337 894, 1131; Sellers Johnson, Cir., 163 Federal 877; also, summary Brief Committee Bill Rights Bar Association amicus curiae, reprinted 678—682. 155, littering insufficient ordinance handing literature willing 162, 151, 155 'There obvious methods preventing littering. Amongst punishment papers streets.' well, alternative threatens assault. Dean Milk Madison, 349, 295, invalidates municipal health Commerce Clause accomplished purposes adequate alternatives. alert trade. Today characterizes designed approves alarming similarity between possessed (or other) act passed Parliament 1795. year Justices Peace authorized persons characterized 'inciting stirring Hatred Contempt King Government. 7. 'was manifestly intended put popular discussion, either matters.' Buckle, History Civilization England (2d London ed.) 350. philosophy espoused objects antagonism appears printed case. conceal contempt seemed outraged criticism gratuitously disapproval quoting press. pit 'class class religion religion.' persistently grant bail pending sentence. unnecessary reach met procedural due process standards, 'Petitioner trial.'

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