In Edwards et al. v. South Carolina (1962), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of African American students who were convicted for breach of peace during a peaceful protest against racial segregation at a local business establishment in Columbia, South Carolina. The students had marched to the State House grounds and refused to disperse when ordered by police, leading to their arrest and conviction under state law for disturbing the peace. However, the Supreme Court held that these convictions violated their First Amendment rights as they were peacefully expressing political views on public property without causing violence or obstructing traffic - activities protected by freedom of speech and assembly clauses within this amendment. Therefore, it overturned these convictions stating that states cannot make criminal what would be constitutionally protected activity under federal law.

In the dissenting opinion for Edwards et al. v. South Carolina, Justice Clark argued that the majority's decision to overturn the convictions of 187 African American students arrested during a civil rights demonstration was misguided and failed to consider important aspects of public safety and order. He contended that while freedom of speech is an essential right, it does not grant individuals unrestricted license to engage in conduct that may incite violence or pose significant risks to public peace. The protesters' actions were deemed by local law enforcement as likely to provoke violent retaliation from onlookers, thereby justifying their arrest under breach-of-peace statutes. Furthermore, he asserted that states should have broad discretion in maintaining public order within their jurisdictions without undue interference from federal courts unless there is clear evidence of constitutional violation.