Civil Rights and Society: Minersville School Board v. Gobitis (1940)

Facts of the case

-Lillian and William Gobitis were expelled from the public schools of Minersville, Pennsylvania -They refusing to salute the flag as part of a daily school exercise. -The Gobitis children were Jehovah's Witnesses; they believed that such a gesture of respect for the flag was forbidden by Biblical commands.

How society was effected

Frankfurter's opinion unleashed a wave attacks on Witnesses across the country: Church burnings, dispersing bible meetings, police forced a group of Witnesses to drink castor oil, beatings, kidnappings, and castrated by vigilantes. (Know 4)

How the law was effected

Partly because of the violent reaction to its decision, including the lynching of Jehovah Witnesses, the ruling did not stand for long.

Outcomes: The Court ruled that

Public schools could compel students—in this case, Jehovah's Witnesses—to salute the American Flag and recite the Pledge of Allegiance despite the students' religious objections to these practices.

Overturned by

The Supreme Court overruled this decision -Three years later -West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943).

Impacts

led to increased persecution of Witnesses in the United States.