Question

How did the decision the Supreme Court reached in Texas v. Johnson affect the protections offered by the first amendment

Answer 1

Gregory Lee Johnson burned an American flag outside of the convention center where the 1984 Republican National Convention was being held in Dallas, Texas. Johnson burned the flag to protest the policies of President Ronald Reagan. He was arrested and charged with violating a Texas statute that prevented the desecration of a venerated object, 

Answer 2

Background

The case rested on an act which most Americans would find offensive: the burning of the American Flag. Gregory Lee Johnson was arrested and tried in the Texas courts. He was found guilt of destroying a venerated object.

He took his case to the supreme court and argued that his was a form of symbolic free speech. In a 5-4 decision the court agreed with him and they overturned the Texas ruling.

They argued that the act was repulsive, but that alone did not constitute blocking his right to disagree with what the governments were doing. The descending 4 argued that Texas had every right to classify the flag as a venerated object.

The case helped insure that the 1st amendment was protected. The court ruled that individual free speech must be protected.