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June 25, 1976court decisionflag burningsymbolic speechoffensive speechprotest rightsCivil RightsJusticeGovernment

Supreme Court protects burning American flag in Texas v. Johnson

Texas v. Johnson held that burning the American flag as political protest is protected speech under the First Amendment. The Court rejected the argument that the flag deserves special protection from desecration, emphasizing that the government cannot prohibit expression simply because society finds it offensive.