April 26, 1965court decisionprotest rightspublic orderbreach of peacecivil rightsCivil RightsJusticeGovernment
Supreme Court protects antiwar protester in Cox v. Louisiana
Cox v. Louisiana reversed a breach-of-peace conviction tied to a civil-rights demonstration, strengthening protection for peaceful protest near public buildings. The case matters because local officials often used vague public-order rules to convert dissent into criminal conduct.