Hugo Black

Name: Palmer v. Thompson — Opinion of the Court
Author: Hugo Black

Palmer v. Thompson — Opinion of the Court

Summary

“Palmer v. Thompson — Opinion of the Court”, is a work by Hugo Black. It explores elements such as pools, swimming and motivation.

Quotes from Palmer v. Thompson — Opinion of the Court (Hugo Black)

Hugo Black, Palmer v. Thompson — Opinion of the Court

“ But the issue here is whether black citizens in Jackson are being denied their constitutional rights when the city has closed the public pools to black and white alike. Nothing in the history or the language of the Fourteenth Amendment nor in any of our prior cases persuades us that the closing of the Jackson swimming pools to all its citizens constitutes a denial of 'the equal protection of the laws.'
Finally, some faint and unpersuasive argument has been made by petitioners that the closing of the pools violated the Thirteenth Amendment which freed the Negroes from slavery. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hugo Black, Palmer v. Thompson — Opinion of the Court

“ It should be noted first that neither the Fourteenth Amendment nor any Act of Congress purports to impose an affirmative duty on a State to begin to operate or to continue to operate swimming pools. Furthermore, this is not a case where whites are permitted to use public facilities while blacks are denied access. It is not a case where a city is maintaining different sets of facilities for blacks and whites and forcing the races to remain separate in recreational or educational activities. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hugo Black, Palmer v. Thompson — Opinion of the Court

“ Petitioners have argued strenuously that a city's possible motivations to ensure safety and save money cannot validate an otherwise impermissible state action. This proposition is, of course, true. Citizens may not be compelled to forgo their constitutional rights because officials fear public hostility or desire to save money. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hugo Black, Palmer v. Thompson — Opinion of the Court

“ Probably few persons, prior to this case, would have imagined that cities could be forced by five lifetime judges to construct or refurbish swimming pools which they choose not to operate for any reason, sound or unsound. Should citizens of Jackson or any other city be able to establish in court that public, tax-supported swimming pools are being denied to one group because of color and supplied to another, they will be entitled to relief. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hugo Black, Palmer v. Thompson — Opinion of the Court

“ And in Gomillion the Alabama Legislature's gerrymander of the boundaries of Tuskegee excluded virtually all Negroes from voting in town elections. Here the record indicates only that Jackson once ran segregated public swimming pools and that no public pools are now maintained by the city. Moreover, there is no evidence in this record to show that the city is now covertly aiding the maintenance and operation of pools which are private in name only. It shows no state action affecting blacks differently from whites. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hugo Black, Palmer v. Thompson — Opinion of the Court

“ Here, for example, petitioners have argued that the Jackson pools were closed because of ideological opposition to racial integration in swimming pools. Some evidence in the record appears to support this argument. On the other hand the courts below found that the pools were closed because the city council felt they could not be operated safely and economically on an integrated basis. There is substantial evidence in the record to support this conclusion. It is difficult or impossible for any court to determine the 'sole' or 'dominant' motivation behind the choices of a group of legislators. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hugo Black, Palmer v. Thompson — Opinion of the Court

“ In Prince Edward County the 'private schools' were open to whites only and these schools were in fact run by a practical partnership between State and county, designed to preserve segregated education. ”

Hugo Black

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Quotes from Palmer v. Thompson — Opinion of the Court (Hugo Black)

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