Mock Trail: Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Ladies and Gentlemen, Your Honor, I stand before this court today to reinforce the plaintiff’s position that the Separate Car Law is profoundly unconstitutional. The law, in its most basic form, stands in clear violation of our nation’s legal and moral principles.

I begin by reminding the court of a core tenet in our Declaration of Independence: "All men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness." Our country was built on these ideals, and they must guide our judgment here today.

As a nation, we face a pivotal moment. The decision this court makes will define how we are seen both by our citizens and the world at large. If we turn our backs on the values that form the foundation of this republic, how can we move forward? How can we expect to be respected?

I also remind you of the importance of the Constitutional amendments added to safeguard these values. This country came together to enshrine the rights of African Americans to citizenship, to vote, and, most importantly, to be protected equally under the law. If this court ignores these protections, the very fabric of our democracy will be at risk.

This case centers on the 14th Amendment, which unequivocally states: "No state shall… deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Equality is not a vague concept—it is clear, unchanging, and absolute. There are no conditions or exceptions when it comes to equality.

The Separate Car Law, by regulating public transportation based solely on race, is not only unjust but unconstitutional. The Constitution is colorblind. There is no legal or moral basis for a caste system, and there is no ruling class in America. The 14th Amendment was created to ensure that all citizens, regardless of race, stand equal under the law.

The true intent of this state law is to segregate based on race, and this is a blatant violation of the Constitution. One of our most basic rights, the right to personal liberty, is under attack. A man has the right to decide where he wishes to sit, regardless of who his fellow passengers are. The government cannot infringe upon this right by using race as the only justification. 

As it pertains to civil rights, and under the 14th Amendment, "all citizens are equal before the law," regardless of race or color. We are one nation, and the sooner we embrace this truth, the sooner we will see less conflict and less cruelty in our society.

If this court rules against Homer Plessy today, it will not only be undermining its authority, but it will also be undermining the very purpose of the 14th Amendment. Furthermore, it will strip us of our ability, as a nation, to speak of freedom, for we will have compromised the most fundamental principle upon which this nation was founded: personal liberty and individual freedom.