Thompson Et Al. v. Mississippi

Appellants were part of a group of 25 to 60 blacks congregating about the center of a small Mississippi town. A local police officer approached the crowd and asked them to disperse. The crowd was not interfering with trafile; the officer had received no complaints; and the only person he knew to be bothered by the crowd was himself. The officer attempted to arrest appellant A. B. Thompson for disturbing the peace after A. B. cursed and acted “real tough.” The officer testified that the crowd “started around” him and he pulled his gun.* *891He left the crowd and returned with two more officers,…