The Case Of Gregory Lee Johnson

In 1984 Republican National convention, Gregory Lee Johnson was among the people who participated in the political demonstration to protest the policies of President Ronald Reagan administration along with some of the others Dallas-based corporations. During the march through the city’s streets, Johnson burned an American flag while the other protesters was chanting for him. Nobody was injured at the protest or burning of the flag, although several eye witnesses were upset by Mr. Johnson behave, which resulted him being arrested, charged, and convicted for violating Texas statute that prevented the desecration of venerated object, such as the American flag, and State court of appeals affirmed. Nevertheless, Johnson appealed his case and argued that his actions were symbolic speech which was protected under the First Amendment; after his appeal, Texas Criminal Court of Appeals reversed it and decided that the State can’t punish Johnson for burning the flag in these circumstances. First, they believe that him burning the flag was expressive conduct which is protected

democratic system of government is based. Then again, Justice William Brennan and other Supreme Court Justice agreed with Johnson and held that flag burning constitutes a form of symbolic speech which is protected by the First Amendment. They made a notation that freedom of speech protects actions that society may find very offensive, but society 's outrage alone is not justification for suppressing free speech. In conclusion, Texas v. Johnson was a landmark case the established the right of American’s to burn an American flag as a symbol of expression and stressed the important of First Amendment freedom of