Today in moot court,
the historic case of Plessy v Ferguson was debated. Plessy was
unhappy with being forced to move to the “black section” of the railway car, despite
purchasing a ticket that allowed him to sit with the white individuals. The
original trial occurred in 1896 and has become known as a landmark United
States Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of state laws
requiring racial segregation in public facilities under the “separate but
equal” doctrine.
The trial began with Team Reagan presenting the fact that Plessy
was legally allowed to purchase the ticket despite the fact that he was a
coloured man. Plessy purchased his ticket legally and peacefully but
was thought to be set-up by the railroad company in order to facilitate his
arrest. Team Reagan stated that the Louisiana state law had no
constitutional power in regards to the operation of the railroad system due to
the fact that the railroad extended across various state lines. On the other
hand, Team Red, White & Better Than You argued that the state had rights
regarding the laws of public transportation. They also described
their beliefs in regards to “Racial Mixin” in stating that having blacks and
whites on the same train car poses potential causes for conflicts and would not
be in the best interest of the public.
In conclusion, Team Red, White & Better Than You presented a
solid argument that resulted in them winning the case. Team Reagan
presented many strong points but their moral arguments were not as persuasive
or valid as the facts and images presented by Team Red, White & Better Than
You.
