Legal Defense Fund Defends Man Against Boycott Charge Before U.S. Supreme Court
Press Release
February 20, 1964

Cite this item
-
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 May 16, 2025.
Copied!
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. aaOue