Texas V. Johnson
By Tanner Laycock
Significance, Past, Present, and Future
Past - Many Americans have died on the values of our flag and it’s basis on freedom. Many felt that it should be illegal ( me included ) to burn the american flag because of the many men and women that fight for our country.
Modern - Today, the American society is changing into a more free atmosphere, where citizens say whatever they want, where a few decades ago, society would've outcast the exact same things.
Future - Shows that many might try and add the burning the flag, whether freedom of speech should mean the disrespect against our troops.
Precedents and Constitutional Amendment Fought
Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989), was a decision by the Supreme Court of the United States that invalidated prohibitions on desecrating the American flag enforced in 48 of the 50 states. Justice William Brennan wrote for a five-justice majority in holding that the defendant Gregory Lee Johnson's act of flag burning was protected speech under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Johnson was represented by attorneys David D. Cole and William Kunstler.
Issue was the First Amendment, whether the burning for the flag was a show of speech.
Precedents -
U.S. Vs. O’Brien
Boos V. Barry
West Virginia BOE V. Barnette
Spence V Washington
Chaplinsky V. New Hampshire