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Constitutional Law Keyed to Maggs
Texas v. Johnson
Citation:
491 U.S. 397 (1989)
InstructorMatthew Steinberg
CaseCast™ – "What you need to know"
Facts
While the Republic National Convention was taking place in Dallas in 1984, respondent Johnson participated in a political demonstration. The purpose of the event was to protest the polities of the Reagan administration and of certain Dallas-based corporations. The demonstrations ended in front of Dallas City Hall, where Johnson unfurled the American flag, doused it with kerosene, and set it on fire. While the flag burned, the protestors chanted: “America, the red, white, and blue, we spit on you.” After the demonstration dispersed, a witness to the flag burning collected the flag’s remains and buried them in this backyard. Gregory Lee Johnson was convicted of desecrating a flag in violation of Texas law.
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