William O. Douglas

“ We deal with a constitutional right, since freedom of association is included in the bundle of First Amendment rights made applicable to the States by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. ”

“ Every non-trading association affiliated with an out-of-state association must file annually with Louisiana's Secretary of State an affidavit that 'none of the officers' of the affiliate is 'a member' of any such organization. ”

“ Penalties against the officers and members are provided for failure to file the affidavit and for false filings.
The NAACP is a New York corporation with some forty-eight directors, twenty vice-presidents, and ten chief executive officers. Only a few reside or work in Louisiana. The District Court commented that the statute 'would require the impossible' of the Louisiana residents or workers. ”