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Texas V. Johnson Case Study

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The case Texas v. Johnson obviously had made a hit in America in 1984. Gregory Lee

Johnson, who was the leader of the revolutionary communist youth brigade, was

unsatisfied with the government at that time. And thus he and his partners protested

against the bias of the Republic, for the simple reason that those large enterprises have

more and more benefits. They were so angry at that time, and then Johnson burned a

national flag in front of the government building. The witnesses were so hurt

emotionally, and one of them picked up the broken pieces and then buried them in his

backyard.

The police arrested Johnson afterward and charged him with violating a state law

in Texas. The law prohibited the blasphemy of venerated object, including …show more content…
Of course, Johnson and his

partners refused to accept the charge, so they appealed the verdict to the Texas Court

of Criminal Appeals. The court actually not only overturned the conviction, but also

they agreed to the view of point that Johnson's action could be regarded as a kind of

symbolic speech, and should be protected according to the first item of freedom of

expression of the Constitution Amendment. That was to say, burning a flag is

innocent.

Five years later, the case was on trial in the Supreme Court. On March 21, 1989,

both parties conducted a fierce debate. The procurator in Dallas emphasized that such

act seriously offended the innocent people, and Texas has a bounden duty to

maintenance the flag as a symbol of national unity. However, William Kunstler,

Johnson’s attorney, argued that Johnson’s conduct was entirely non-violent, and the

burning of the flag did not cause any damage to the individuals who were passers-by

or others.

Some judges insisted on the absolute freedom of speech while others held the

opinion that the flag burning was not an expression of speech, but only a kind of

conduct which was so harmful to society. The votes were critical in front of

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