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CASE STUDY
NAACP v . Claiborne Hardware Company
In a speech encouraging a boycott of all whiteowned businesses in Claiborne County , Charles Evers stated to several hundred people , “ If we catch any of you going into any of them racist stores , we ’ re gonna break your damn neck .” The Supreme Court held that Evers ’ s speech , even though it advocated the use of force , was constitutionally protected by the First Amendment . Crucial to the Court ’ s decision seems to have been the fact that this speech was not followed by acts of violence and there was no other evidence of Evers authorizing , ratifying , or directing acts of violence .