Texas

Texas

Danielle Catalan

**Texas v Johnson (1989)**

**Background:** Gregory Lee Johnson burned an American flag in front of Dallas City Hall in 1984 to protest the Reagan administration policies. He was convicted of flag desecration under Texas law and sentenced to one year in jail as well as fined $2000.

**Question:** Is burning or any other form of desecration to the American flag protected under the first amendment?

**Supreme Court Ruling and Rationale:** The Supreme Court ruled 5-to-4 in favor of Johnson. The court stated that although an audience took offense to his actions, they were still protected under the first amendment. The court also acknowledged that state officials could not designate symbols to be used to communicate a restricted set of messages.