Yick Wo v. Hopkins, 118 U.S. 356 (1886)

"No reason whatever is assigned why they should not be permitted
to carry on their harmless and useful occupation..."

California, 1884. Yick Wo is Chinese. For twenty-two years his San Francisco laundry business has been regulated by fire and health officials. Suddenly, a new ordinance requires consent from the Board of Supervisors.

Eighty Caucasians apply for consent; all but one are approved. Two-hundred Chinese apply. Every last one is denied; they're then thrown in jail for running their business without consent. Yick Wo petitions the Supreme Court.

Justice Matthews writes: "No reason whatever, except the will of the supervisors, is assigned why they should not be permitted to carry on their harmless and useful occupation. The conclusion cannot be resisted that no reason for it exists except hostility to the race and nationality to which the petitioners belong. The discrimination is therefore illegal."

For more...

Basic Readings In U.S. Democracy: Yick Wo v. Hopkins U.S. Dept of State

Proving Unconstitutional Discrimination Exploring Constitutional Conflicts

Everyone Deserves Equal Protection Of Laws First Amendment Cyber-Tribune

AMENDMENT 14 Due Process and Equal Protection of the Law

Passed by Congress June 13, 1866. Ratified July 9, 1868.

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. [^].

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