Texas v. Johnson and Free Speech Rights

One of the landmark Supreme Court cases that significantly impacted the rights of individuals regarding freedom of speech is Texas v. Johnson, decided in 1989. This case involved a man named Gregory Lee Johnson, who burned an American flag as a form of political protest during a rally in Texas. He was subsequently arrested and convicted under a state law that prohibited flag desecration. Johnson appealed his conviction, arguing that his actions were protected by the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression.

The Supreme Court's decision in this case clarified the boundaries of expressive conduct. It ultimately ruled that burning the flag is a form of symbolic speech that is protected under the First Amendment, thereby establishing an important precedent regarding political protest and free expression.