Jones Vs Francisco Case Study

I do not believe that Jones has a chance of winning his appeal against the city of San Francisco for approaching people and asking them for money because I do not believe that Jones' First Amendment right was necessarily violated when he was arrested for it. From what I understand, Jones was arrested for accosting people. For me, the key word in this case is “accosting,” which according to Merriam Webster dictionary means, “to approach and speak to (someone) often in an angry, aggressive, or unwanted way.” According to this case, that is what Jones was doing and that is why he was arrested; not necessarily for the act of soliciting money itself but for approaching people aggressively and unwantedly.
I believe that Jones would not have had a problem if he would have solicited money in a different more peaceful and quieter manner, such as how he even mentions The Salvation Army does. As the judge describes to Jones’ inquiry about how it is unfair that the Salvation Army is permitted solicit and he is not, the Salvation Army does not accost people. They usually just stand in one place ringing a bell so those who wish to make contact with them can do so on their own accord. I think that Jones would also …show more content…
In another case, Organization for a Better Austin v. Keefe, the Supreme Court upholds that peaceful pamphleteering is protected by the First Amendment, yet, when somebody accosts somebody else that right is no longer protected. Furthermore, I think that Jones’ right to keep soliciting was also “void” under Texas v. Johnson’s opinion that a person’s freedom of expression is no longer protected when there is disturbance of the peace. Again, Jones was accused of accosting people. He was disturbing other people’s right to peace by aggressively and unwantedly approaching