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I.FREEDOMOFSPEECH
1.Introduction
Texasv.Johnson,
491U.S.397,109S.Ct.2533(1989)
JusticeBRENNANdeliveredtheopinionoftheCourt.
AfterpubliclyburninganAmericanflagasameansofpoliticalprotest,
GregoryLeeJohnsonwasconvictedofdesecratingaflaginviolation
ofTexaslaw.Thiscasepresentsthequestionwhetherhisconviction
isconsistentwiththeFirstAmendment.Weholdthatitisnot.
I
WhiletheRepublicanNationalConventionwastakingplaceinDallas
in1984,respondentJohnsonparticipatedinapoliticaldemonstration.
ThedemonstrationendedinfrontofDallasCityHall,whereJohnson
unfurledtheAmericanflag,douseditwithkerosene,andsetiton
fire.Whiletheflagburned,theprotestorschanted,KAmerica,thered,
white,andblue,wespitonyou.”Afterthedemonstratorsdispersed,
awitnesstotheflagburningcollectedtheflag’sremainsandburied
theminhisbackyard.Noonewasphysicallyinjuredorthreatened
withinjury,thoughseveralwitnessestestifiedthattheyhadbeen
seriouslyoffendedbytheflagburning.
Oftheapproximately100demonstrators,Johnsonalonewas
chargedwithacrime.Theonlycriminaloffensewithwhichhe
waschargedwasthedesecrationofaveneratedobjectinviolation
ofTex.PenalCode.1)Afteratrial,hewasconvicted,sentencedto
1)Tex.PenalCodeAnn.§42.09(1989)providesinfull:
§42.09.DesecrationofVeneratedObject
(a)Apersoncommitsanoffenseifheintentionallyorknowinglydesecrates:
(1)apublicmonument;
(2)aplaceofworshiporburial;or
(3)astateornationalflag.
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