Question

How did the Moore v. Dempsey Supreme Court ruling represent a victory for the civil rights movement?

Responses
It helped protect defendants' constitutional rights from state interference. .

It established that lynching and cross-burning were federal crimes.

It declared that segregation in public transportation was illegal.

It declared that poll taxes and literacy tests were unconstitutional.

Answer 1

The statement "It helped protect defendants' constitutional rights from state interference" accurately reflects how the Moore v. Dempsey Supreme Court ruling represented a victory for the civil rights movement.

The Moore v. Dempsey case, decided in 1923, was a landmark decision that addressed due process rights. The Supreme Court ruled that the trial of six African American men accused of murder in Arkansas had been fundamentally unfair. The defendants were convicted in a racially biased trial where they were denied their constitutional right to a fair trial and equal protection under the law.

The decision was a significant victory for the civil rights movement as it underscored the importance of protecting the constitutional rights of defendants, particularly in cases with racial bias. This ruling set a precedent for future cases and contributed to the ongoing struggle for civil rights by affirming the principle that individuals, regardless of their race, are entitled to fair and impartial legal proceedings.