Legal Defense Fund Defends Man Against Boycott Charge Before U.S. Supreme Court

Press Release
February 20, 1964

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Press Releases, Loose Pages. Legal Defense Fund Defends Man Against Boycott Charge Before U.S. Supreme Court, 1964. db19f5a7-bd92-ee11-be37-00224827e97b. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/52879d71-1cf9-4e4a-91a2-221542aa24c7/legal-defense-fund-defends-man-against-boycott-charge-before-us-supreme-court. Accessed November 23, 2025.

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    PRESS RELEASE 

NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND 
TOCOLUMBUS CIRCLE + NEW YORKI19,N.Y. © JUdson 6-8397 

DR. ALLAN KNIGHT CHALMERS JACK GREENBERG CONSTANCE BAKER MOTLEY 
President Director-Counsel Associate Counsel 

LEGAL DEFENSE FUND DEFENDS 
MAN AGAINST BOYCOTT CHARGE 
BEFORE U.S. SUPREME COURT 

February 20, 1964 

WASHINGTON--Attorneys of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund appear in the 
U.S, Supreme Court here today in defense of a student leader charged 
with encouraging a student boycott in Baton Rouge, La. 

Dion T, Diamond was arrested February 1, 1962, after two days 
of speech making on Southern University campus, during which he en- 
couraged students to boycott classes. 

This was to demonstrate sympathy for other students who had 
been penalized by University officials for participating in anti- 
discrimination demonstrations. 

Diamond was convicted, by the local Louisiana trial court, for 
disturbing the peace. His sentence of 60 days in jail and $100 fine 
was upheld by the Louisiana Supreme Court. 

The NAACP Legal Defense Fund, in its brief for the U.S, 
Supreme Court, argues that Diamond, a worker for the Student Non- 
Violent Coordinating Committee, was convicted for engaging in con- 
stitutionally protected free speech, 

This conviction was carried out under a vague and indefinite 
law, the Defense Fund maintains. 

Originally, Diamond was charged with violating a Louisiana 
law prohibiting "criminal anarchy," But, this charge was later 
dropped, 

Students, anxious to bring his case to public attention, dem- 
onstrated in the Washington office of Attorney General Robert 
Kennedy in March of 1962, while Diamond was still in jail awaiting 
trial. 

James, M, Nabrit, III, assistant counsel of the NAACP Legal 
Defense Fund, argues the case before the high court. He will be 
assisted by Johnnie A, Jones, Baton Rouge, La,; Wiley A, Branton, 
Atlanta, Ga,; and Jack Greenberg, director-counsel of the Fund's 
New York City headquarters. 

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Legal Defense Fund Defends Man Against Boycott Charge Before U.S. Supreme Court

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