Cite as: 515 U. S. 557 (1995)
Opinion of the Court
the Massachusetts law. Nor has any other legitimate interest been identified in support of applying that law in the way done by the state courts to expressive activity like the parade. PruneYard Shopping Center v. Robins, 447 U. S. 74, 87, and New York State Club Assn., Inc. v. City of New York, 487 U. S. 1, 13, distinguished. Pp. 572-581. 418 Mass. 238, 636 N. E. 2d 1293, reversed and remanded.
Souter, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court.
Chester Darling argued the cause for petitioners. With him on the briefs were Dwight G. Duncan and William M. Connolly.
John Ward argued the cause for respondents. With him on the brief were David Duncan, Gretchen Van Ness, Gary Buseck, Mary Bonauto, Larry W. Yackle, and Charles S. Sims.*
Justice Souter delivered the opinion of the Court. The issue in this case is whether Massachusetts may require private citizens who organize a parade to include among the marchers a group imparting a message the organizers do not wish to convey. We hold that such a mandate violates the First Amendment.
*Briefs of amici curiae urging reversal were filed for the Boy Scouts of America by George A. Davidson, Carla A. Kerr, and David K. Park; for the Catholic War Veterans of the United States of America, Inc., by John P. Hale; for the Center for Individual Rights et al. by Gary B. Born, Ernest L. Mathews, Jr., Maura R. Cahill, and Michael P. McDonald; and for the Christian Legal Society et al. by Steven T. McFarland, Samuel B. Casey, and Gregory S. Baylor.
Briefs of amici curiae urging affirmance were filed for the Anti-Defamation League et al. by Walter A. Smith, Jr., Thomas N. Bulleit, Jr., Steven M. Freeman, Arlene B. Mayerson, Antonia Hernandez, Alice E. Zaft, Judith L. Lichtman, and Donna R. Lenhoff; and for the Irish Lesbian and Gay Organization et al. by R. Paul Wickes and Michael E. Deutsch.
Burt Neuborne, Steven R. Shapiro, and Marjorie Heins filed a brief for
the American Civil Liberties Union as amicus curiae.
559
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