Boynton v. Virginia
By Nicole H.
Bruce Boynton claimed that arresting a black bus passenger for refusing to leave a "white-only" section on a bus violated the Interstate Commerce Act and the Equal Protection Clause of the United States Constitution. Thurgood Marshall defended Boynton's case. In court, the decision was in favor of Boynton. The findings stated that restaurants in bus terminals that exist to serve interstate bus passengers are not allowed to discriminate against any passenger, whether white or black, according to the Interstate Commerce Act. Taking a civil rights movement further started from the decision supporting federal government actions in ending segregation some public facilities. When Southerners refused to accept the ruling of the case, the Freedom Rides became a common action on interstate buses by young activists the next summer. These various protest activities eventually led to the 1964 Civil Rights Act that banned racial discrimination once and for all in all public facilities.