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Gregory Johnson's First Amendment Case

421 Words2 Pages
“He was charged under a Texas statute that prohibited desecration of a venerated object (including...a state or national flag).” In 1984, Gregory Lee Johnson burned the American flag as part of his demonstration against nuclear weapons. It started as an organized protest along the streets of Dallas, and ended up being an offensive act to witnesses of the scene. One could attempt to justify Gregory’s unlawful action as an expression of his First Amendment. However, as a justice on the US Supreme Court, I would have to agree with opinion B, because it appropriately supports the reason for Johnson’s conviction. I disagree with opinion A because although Johnson’s demonstration was an expression of his First Amendment, he took it too far when
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