379 U.S. 241, 85 S. Ct. 348, 13 L. Ed.2d 258
HEART OF ATLANTA MOTEL.INC v. UNITED STATES
Civil Rights act of 1964, 78 Stat. 241, 241.
The Civil rights act of 1964, forbid racial discrimination and segregation in public, and other public accommodations engaged in interstate commerce. Appellant owns, and operated Heart of Atlanta Motel. Appellant advertises 50 billboards, with 75% of its registered guest from out of state. Heart of Atlanta Motel refused to accept Negros.
The owners of the Heart of Atlanta motel filed a suit against the government arguing that the Act, exceeded its commerce Claus powers to regulate interstate commerce. The owners challenged the title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Owners argued that the Act also violated their fifth amendment by depriving them of letting them chose their own customers in their private company, and letting them run their business how they choose. The act also, according to the owners violated their thirteenth amendment rights by placing them in a involuntary servitude by forcing them to let Negros rent their motel rooms.
The owner argued that his motel was never engaged, and still isn’t engaged in interstate commerce, and only of local characters. Accordingly, even though the Owners advertised across the state of Georgia. The motel could be accessed by instate highways, and was nationally advertised. (75% of guest were residents from other states) District courts ruled it did not violate the Constitution and
