The Case Texas V. Johnson - 782 Words

Angel Deng Ms. Crouse US Government Period 6 Texas v. Johnson The case Texas v. Johnson happened in 1984, Gregory Lee Johnson burned an American flag to protest President Ronald Reagan in front of the convention center in Dallas, Texas. He was a member of the Revolutionary Communist Youth Brigade (Texas v. Johnson in 1989: Summary, Decision Significance, Stephen Benz). During the 1984 Republican National Convention, he participated in a political demonstration. The demonstrators were protesting the policies of the Reagan Administration. While they were marching through the streets, another demonstrator handed Johnson an American flag. Johnson set the flag on fire when they reached Dallas City Hall, where the Convention was held.†¦show more content†¦Johnson, Oyez.org). The majority opinion was written by Justice William J. Brenna. It indicated that the Court agreed with Johnson that flag burning constitutes a form of â€Å"symbolic speech† that is protected by the First Amendment. And the Court disagreed with Texas’ argument that Johnson’s action breaches of the peace. What’s more, it emphasized that the state may not discriminate upon different view point. Justice John Paul Steven also wrote a dissenting opinion, arguing the national flag is a valuable asset, and Johnson’s action belittled the value of this important national symbol (Texas v. Johnson, LII / Legal Information Institute). This case did not change or add any amendments, but the first amendment played a big role in it. The First Amendment guarantees the rights of free expression and action that are fundamental to democratic government, These rights include freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech (First Amendment, Dictionary.com). It protects people’s freedom of speech, and emphasize the right of symbolic speech as well, This case remains relevant today, and it is still a controversial issue. Because under the first amendment, people have the freedom of speech. The Court supports the flag burning is the same as other legal forms of symbolic speech, such as sit-ins and wearing armbands. After this case, several laws and statutes had been brought up to make desecrating the flag a federal crime; butShow MoreRelatedTexas V. Johnson. The Case Texas V. Johnson Happened In774 Words   |  4 PagesTexas v. Johnson The case Texas v. Johnson happened in 1984, Gregory Lee Johnson burned an American flag to protest President Ronald Reagan in front of the convention center in Dallas, Texas. He was a member of the Revolutionary Communist Youth Brigade (Texas v. Johnson in 1989: Summary, Decision Significance, Stephen Benz). During the 1984 Republican National Convention, he participated in a political demonstration. The demonstrators were protesting the policies of the Reagan Administration.Read MoreThe Opposing case of Texas v. Johnson1218 Words   |  5 PagesSupreme Court’s decision on the case of Texas v. Johnson has been a controversial one, as it involves the burning of our national symbol, the American flag. It leads to the question: Does the desecration of the American flag a way of expressing speech that is protected by the first amendment? Shouldnt the destruction of a true American symbol be protected and preserved, as it is a symbol that represents our country? There is a great amount of criticism that Texas v. Johnson has been faced with; most ofRead MoreCase Analysis : Texas V. Johnson Essay801 Words   |  4 PagesElloheim Tucker CRJ 201 Fall 2016 Dr. Cretacci I. Name: Texas v. Johnson II. Legal Citation: 491 U.S. 397 (1989) III. Statement Facts: The respondent was involved in a political demonstration where he had drenched the American flag with kerosene and lit it on fire. Respondent was charged and convicted of the illegal act of desecration of the flag. The criminal appeals reversed the conviction and said that petitioner could not prosecute the respondent for burning the flag as a part of politicalRead MoreEssay on Case Analysis Texas V. Johnson1292 Words   |  6 Pages________________________________________ 491 U.S. 397 Texas v. Johnson CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS ________________________________________ No. 88-155 Argued: March 21, 1989 --- Decided: June 21, 1989 This case analysis of Texas v. Gregory Lee Johnson was a Supreme Court case that overthrew bans on damaging the American flag in 48 of the 50 states. Gregory Lee Johnson participated in a political demonstration during the 1984 Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas, where he burned the AmericanRead More texas v. johnson case brief Essay487 Words   |  2 Pages U.S. Supreme Court TEXAS v. JOHNSON, 491 U.S. 397 (1989) 491 U.S. 397 Citation: nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Johnson was convicted of desecration of a venerated object in violation of a Texas statute. Date Decided: nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;June 21, 1989 Facts of case: nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;At the 1984 Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas, Johnson decided to burn an American flag in protest of some policies made by the Reagan administration and some Dallas corporationsRead MoreA Political Demonstration Of The Dallas City Hall1118 Words   |  5 Pagesrespondent Gregory Lee Johnson participated in a political demonstration to protest the policies of the Reagan administrations and some Dallas-bound corporations. Johnson proceeded with burning an American flag in protest against the policies, where Reagan sought to stimulate the economy with large tax cuts. Johnson was tried and convicted, under Texas law, of the desecration of a venerated object. The State Court of Appeals affirmed the actions, until the case advanced to the SupremeRead MoreThe 1st Amendment : The Rights Of The First Amendment1572 Words   |  7 PagesHistorically, as demonstrated in cases such as Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier, the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as t he government in general, has well-upheld this amendment, but starting sometime in the second half of the 20th century, they are slowly embracing it less and less, as demonstrated in cases such as Texas v. Johnson. The recent hostility towards the First Amendment demonstrates that its rights are in danger. The 1969 ruling of Tinker v. Des Moines is an example of a historic case where the Supreme CourtRead MoreDiscussing Texas V. Johnson Essay1632 Words   |  7 PagesDiscussing Texas v. Johnson This paper will dive in and analyze the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in the case, Texas v. Johnson, and the still active controversy among the public concerning what circumstances state governments and the federal government have the right to constitutionally prohibit the burning or other form of desecration to the American Flag. Under its decision in Texas v. Johnson the later ruling in the case of United States v. Eichman, in 1990, the Supreme Court had ruledRead MoreEssay about Against Making Flag Burning Illegal924 Words   |  4 Pagesthe right to protest. This was upheld in a Supreme Court case Texas v. Johnson, where the defendant Mr. Johnson was arrested for publicly burning a flag outside the Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas. After being arrested Mr. Johnson was convicted of setting fire to a flag during a protest and chanting with other protesters; â€Å"America, the red, white, and blue, we spit on you†(Texas v. Johnson). He appealed his clai m to the Texas Supreme Court of Appeals where they overturned the convictionRead MoreSpeech Free Speech On The Freedom Of Speech1380 Words   |  6 Pagesdifferent kinds of forms. The speech can be spoken, written, or be an action. All of these kinds of conduct could be said to express ideas in some ways, however, only some conduct is protected as symbolic speech. When the court analyzes these types of cases, they will ask the speaker about whether they intended on conveying a particular message and whether it was likely that the audience understood the message and the purpose. For a court to decide that some kind of speech is speech that is not protected