Gregory Johnson Case

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In 1984, Gregory Lee Johnson participated in a demonstration at the Republican National Convention held in Dallas, Texas. He was engaged in a protest for polices of the Reagan Administration. Through the streets, the demonstrators chanted and protested. Johnson was handed an American flag between all the ranting. As he reached Dallas City Hall, Johnson set the flag on fire. When the flag burned, he was quickly arrested. Johnson was charged with violating a Texas law that prevented the desecration of a venerated object. This action of destroying the flag which is considered to be respected sentenced him to one year in prison, and $2,000 in fine. In response to the fine, Johnson appealed to the Court of Appeals for the Fifth District of Texas but lost. Then he took his case to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals where his conviction was overturned. The State couldn’t punish Johnson under the First Amendment. The case was then taken to the Supreme Court. …show more content…
Johnson argued that the 1st amendment was particularly crafted to protect unpopular speech. The First Amendment says “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech…or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redness of grievances.” Since the 1st amendment guarantees freedom of expression and the right to petition, it agrees with his argument. Johnson demonstrated his deep distress over the nation’s policies. Flag burning is viewed as a form of symbolic speech. The state of Texas argued the preservation of the flag as a symbol of nationhood and national unity and also the preservation of a breach of the peace. They said burning of the flag as a means of expressions is not protected under the 1st amendment. Through Texas’ view, though the First Amendment does protect symbolic speech, there should be an exception to prohibit burning of the

Gregory Lee Johnson Case Summary

Brief fact summary of this court is Gregory Lee Johnson burning the United States flag outside of the convention center in Dallas, Texas when the 1984 Republican National Convention just being started. The reason Jonson burned the flag is he wanted to protest the policies of President Ronald Reagan. He was arrested because Johnson was convicted of damage of a respected object that include American flag in violating of a Texas law. More than that, John was argued that his action is “symbolic speech”…

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Gregory Lee Johnson Case Study

Case 491 U.S. 397, 109 S.Ct. 2533 argued March 21, 1989 and was decided June 21, 1989. The issue in Texas v. Gregory Lee Johnson was the desecration of the American flag as a political protest protected under the freedom of expression clauses of the First and Fourteenth Amendments. While the Republican National Convention was taking place in Dallas in 1984, Gregory Lee Johnson participated in a political demonstration called the “Republican War Chest Tour.” The purpose of the demonstration was to…

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Texas Vs Johnson Case Study

The decision of Texas v. Johnson was a controversial case that . In this case, Gregory Johnson burned the American flag as a form of protest against Reagan administration policies. Authorities convicted Johnson under a Texas law that prohibited the desecration of a national flag. Johnson’s conviction was a direct violation of freedom of expression which is protected under the First Amendment. According to the First Amendment, “ Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech;or the right…

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Texas Vs Johnson Case Analysis

go? In the case of “Texas vs Johnson”, a man named Gregory Lee Johnson tried to test that limit. Johnson was part of a protest that was marching through the streets of Dallas, spray painting buildings and causing other types of property damage. During the protest, Johnson set an American flag on fire. He was arrested and charged with one year in prison and a fine of 2,000$, but was let fee, because the court agreed to hear his case. The U.S Supreme Court agreed to hear Johnson’s case, because…

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The Pros And Cons Of Flag Desecration

conservative administration policies and executive decisions that harmed some Dallas-based corporations.Within the crowd of riled up Americans was Gregory Lee Johnson. As the protestors peacefully roared in disagreement, tensions escalated, and verbal communication turned into the physical form of symbolic communication. One of Johnson’s peers handed Johnson an American flag taken from a…

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Essay on Case Analysis Texas V. Johnson

UNITED STATES ________________________________________ 491 U.S. 397 Texas v. Johnson CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS OF TEXAS ________________________________________ No. 88-155 Argued: March 21, 1989 --- Decided: June 21, 1989 This case analysis of Texas v. Gregory Lee Johnson was a Supreme Court case that overthrew bans on damaging the American flag in 48 of the 50 states. Gregory Lee Johnson participated in a political demonstration during the 1984 Republican National Convention…

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Texas Vs Johnson Case Study

Texas vs Johnson was taken to the Supreme Court because someone burnt the American flag. Gregory Johnson burned an American flag outside of the convention center. At the 1984 Republican National Convention in Dallas, Texas. Johnson burned the flag to protest the rules and policies of President Ronald Reagan. He was arrested and charged with breaking a Texas law that prevented the burning of an important object, including the American flag. A Texas court tried and convicted Johnson. He appealed, because…

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Healthy Living Essay

Texas v. Johnson 1989 Freedom of Speech The reason for the case starts with the Revolutionary Communist Youth Brigade marching around Dallas, TX during the 1984 National Republican Convention. The group was marching through the streets protesting President Reagan’s policies. While the group was mostly marching because of the convention; there were also several companies that they were targeting. When at one of the companies one member took the American flag and handed it to Gregory Lee Johnson…

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Flag Burning In The Texas Vs. Johnson Cases

very opposite of what the flag stands for. The decision that flag burning is constitutional was decided by the Supreme Court during the Texas VS. Johnson case in 1989. This decision was wildly controversial to this day could be overturned by the Supreme Court in a revote. Gregory Lee Johnson was a member of the Revolutionary Communist Youth Brigade. Johnson along with other members marched through the streets, they shouted chants, they destroyed property, they broke windows, they threw trash, and they…

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Law and Case Law Questions Essay

legislation and case law QUESTIONS 1. The case study references one state statute. Identify it and explain what it prohibits. The state statute is the Tex. Penal Code 42.09(a)(3) It prohibits the “desecration of a venerable object” (Case Study) 2. Which branch of government (executive, judicial, or legislative) created the state statute? The Legislative branch of the government created the state statute. 3. The passage above also discusses one court case. Who were the parties involved in the case? The parties…

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