We have considerable history with cases involving governmental efforts at stamping out dissent generally and involving the flag specifically. The state had sound precedent for doing so, a Supreme Court decision (Minersville School District v. Gobitis) that permitted such punishment. But when the Court heard a similar case in 1943, West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, it wisely reversed itself. In a protest at the Republican National Convention in Dallas, Gregory Johnson doused an American flag in kerosene and set it on fire. He was arrested and charged under Texas law with the crime of desecrating the American flag.

Source: Forbes December 05, 2016 15:01 UTC