What is texas v johnson?

Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989), was a landmark Supreme Court case that dealt with the constitutionality of flag burning as a form of political protest. The case originated from an incident in 1984 when Gregory Lee Johnson burned an American flag during a protest outside the 1984 Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas.

Johnson was arrested and charged with desecration of a venerated object, a violation of Texas law. He was convicted and sentenced to one year in prison and a $2,000 fine. Johnson appealed the decision, arguing that his actions were protected under the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech.

The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, ruled in favor of Johnson, holding that flag burning was a form of symbolic speech protected under the First Amendment. The majority opinion, written by Justice William Brennan, stated that the government cannot prohibit expression simply because it is offensive or disagreeable.

The decision in Texas v. Johnson reaffirmed the principle that the First Amendment protects even the most unpopular forms of speech, including flag burning. It remains a significant case in the protection of free speech rights in the United States.