1963: The 182 Petitioners were African American protesters of segregation, they marched in groups of 15 in a peaceful, orderly fashion to the South Carolina state house grounds. They protested on public land and were not disruptive to society. They were arrested. 
 
The court concluded their arrests were a violation of their rights.
 
This was pivotal because it made it so peaceful protesters would not be arrested.

1994: Women's Health Center Inc. operated several abortion clinics throughout central Florida. A state court prohibited abortion protesters from abusing those entering or exiting the clinic, or otherwise interfering with access to the clinic. About 6 months later, Women's Health Center Inc. expressed a need to broaden the court order. The state court agreed, banning demonstrators from entering a 36-foot buffer-zone around the clinic, making excessive noise, using images visible to patients, approaching patients within a 300-foot radius of the clinic, and protesting within a 300-foot radius of staff residences. One of the petitioners argued that this violated her right to free speech. The state court disagreed and upheld the order. 
 
The majority of the court approved of the 36-foot buffer zone around the front of the clinic because it was essential to allow patients and staff to enter and leave the building freely, but disapproved of the 36-foot buffer zone along the back and side of the building because it found no indication that protesting in these areas interfered with the function of the clinic. The Court also determined that the limitations placed on noise-making were necessary to insure the well-being of the patients, whereas those placed on images were not because they were easier to ignore. Finally, the Court concluded that both 300-foot radius rules were too broad, thus restricting the protesters more than was necessary.
 
This was pivotal because it kept protesters from being violent and disruptive.

A club called the Christian Legal Society (CLS), was failed to be recognized as an official student organization because state law requires all registered student organizations to allow "any student to participate, become a member, or seek leadership positions, regardless of their status or beliefs." In contrast, CLS requires its members to attest in writing that "I believe in: The Bible as the inspired word of God; The Deity of our Lord, Jesus Christ, God's son; The vicarious death of Jesus Christ for our sins; His bodily resurrection and His personal return; The presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the work of regeneration; [and] Jesus Christ, God's son, is Lord of my life." The district court dismissed the case.  
 
The court ruled that a student organization at a public university was not free to limit their members to those who shared their belief system if that resulted in discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
 
This was pivotal because it limited groups from being discriminatory when they assemble.