Final answer:
Symbolic speech, like wearing an armband or burning a U.S. flag, is recognized as a form of expression protected by the First Amendment, established by cases such as Brandenburg v. Ohio and Texas v. Johnson.
Step-by-step explanation:
Wearing an armband and burning a United States flag are examples of symbolic speech: actions that do not consist of speaking or writing but that express an opinion. Symbolic speech is recognized as a form of expression covered by the First Amendment. Notable Supreme Court cases, like Brandenburg v. Ohio and Texas v. Johnson, have upheld the right to symbolic speech even when the actions, such as burning the flag, are controversial and may seem offensive to many. While symbolic speech is protected, it can be limited under certain conditions where it may involve actions that break other laws or pose significant public safety risks.
The Supreme Court has historically expanded the interpretation of free speech to include various forms of symbolic speech. Gregory Lee Johnson's case is a key example where the court reaffirmed that flag burning as part of political protest is protected under the First Amendment, invalidating laws that criminalized such acts based on their expressive content. The landmark Supreme Court decision underscored that the government could not prohibit the expression of an idea merely because it is found offensive.