Thread by @jpscasteras

Let's talk about the #MasterpieceCakeshop case at #SCOTUS. It involves a familiar story... <THREAD>

Three customers walk into a small business that sells specialty foods. The owner turns them away or denies access to full range of products.

When the owner is challenged in court, he claims the First Amendment exempts him from public accommodations law. He's described as an artist

This portrays what occurred in 2012 to Mr. Mullins, Mr. Craig, and Ms. Munn in #MasterpieceCakeshop. (Photo via NYT)

But it *ALSO* describes what transpired in 1964 to three African-American customers at a South Carolina BBQ restaurant called Piggie Park

(Photo credit: Randy Nichols / Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic, CC BY-SA 2.0)

That led to #SCOTUS' seminal case on racial discrimination in public accommodations, Newman v. Piggie Park Enterprises, 390 U.S. 400 (1968)

Piggie Park was owned by Maurice Bessinger, who was deeply religious & believed that racial intermixing “contravene[d] the will of God.”

When a Black Baptist minister sought to enter the BBQ restaurant, Mr. Bessinger stood in the doorway to block him.

For two other African Americans patrons, Mr. Bessinger would only allow them to purchase food if they abstained from consuming on premises

The customers sued, alleging Mr. Bessinger’s refusal violated Title II of Civil Rights Act of 1964 (which is similar to Colorado law here)

When Piggie Park reached #SCOTUS, it unanimously held that Mr. Bessinger’s conduct violated Title II: oyez.org/cases/1967/339 @Oyez

Fast forward 49 years --> LDF files brief in #MasterpieceCakeshop to stress a few points: (1) We've been here before. Piggie Park is central

(2) #SCOTUS should decline the invitation to carve wide exceptions into public accommodations laws. (As it did in Piggie Park) #OpenToAll

(3) The Solicitor General's proposed exceptions (for "artistic" & "custom" products) would quickly swallow the rule. justice.gov/sites/default/…

It's also worth zooming out and remembering what Piggie Park represents in historical context --> progress is possible. #OpenToAll

We (LDF) appreciate that protecting the promise of equal protection & free exercise of religion is critical & delicate task of highest order

Indeed, LDF has both challenged religious justifications for discrimination -- and also filed briefs in many religious discrimination cases

That's precisely why we feel compelled to weigh in & support Colorado & @ACLU. Read the full brief (& press release) naacpldf.org/press-release/…