Peaceful sit-in demonstrators protesting segregationist policies cannot be arrested under a state's "disturbing the peace" laws. Decided December 11, 1961 (argued 1961). Opinion of the Court: Earl Warren → go there Applied: the First Amendment → go there Applied: the Fourteenth Amendment → go there Topic: Discrimination based on race and ethnicity. Garner v. Louisiana, 368 U.S. 157 (1961), is a landmark case argued by Thurgood Marshall before the US Supreme Court. On December 11, 1961, the court unanimously ruled that Louisiana could not convict peaceful sit-in protesters who refused to leave dining establishments under the state's "disturbing the peace" laws. Wiki link