USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -The majority of the Court, according to Justice William Brennan, agreed with Johnson and held that flag burning constitutes a form of “symbolic speech” that is protected by the First Amendment.

Detailed explanation-2: -Decision: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision in favor of Johnson. The high court agreed that symbolic speech – no matter how offensive to some – is protected under the First Amendment.

Detailed explanation-3: -In Texas vs Johnson, it reversed Gregory Johnson’s conviction for burning an American flag during the 1984 Republican National Convention. The Court concluded that the flag burning was “speech” and again determined that the flag desecration statute was aimed at the communicative impact of Johnson’s message.

Detailed explanation-4: -In Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989), the Supreme Court struck down on First Amendment grounds a Texas flag desecration law. The 5-4 decision has served as the center point of a continuing debate regarding the value of free speech as exercised through the burning of the U.S. flag as a form of political protest.