In this episode, Malik Liberty breaks down the landmark Supreme Court case Shapiro v. Thompson (1969) — a ruling that reaffirmed the constitutional right to travel as a fundamental liberty protected under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The Court struck down state laws that denied welfare benefits to new residents, declaring that no government may penalize or restrict movement within the United States.

Malik explains how this case ties directly to earlier precedents like Crandall v. Nevada (1867) and Kent v. Dulles (1958), proving that the right to travel is not a government-granted privilege — it’s a birthright guaranteed by the Constitution.

🎙️ “Authority ends where the Constitution begins.” — Unchained Frequency

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Episode Notes / Footnotes (for RSS.com “Show Notes):

Key Legal Citations:

1. Shapiro v. Thompson, 394 U.S. 618 (1969) — Supreme Court recognized the constitutional right to travel under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
2. Kent v. Dulles, 357 U.S. 116 (1958) — “The right to travel is part of the liberty of which the citizen cannot be deprived without due process of law.”
3. Crandall v. Nevada, 73 U.S. 35 (1867) — The right to travel freely between states is a fundamental right.
4. Murdock v. Pennsylvania, 319 U.S. 105 (1943) — “No State shall convert a liberty into a license and charge a fee therefor.”

Themes Covered:

• The difference between Equal Protection and Due Process
• How states tried to limit new residents’ rights
• Why the Supreme Court called travel “a fundamental right”
• How these rulings connect to modern driver licensing and movement restrictions

Referenced Legal Sources:

• Law.Cornell.edu
• Justia – Shapiro v. Thompson (1969)
• U.S. Constitution – 14th Amendment