In the case of Texas v. Johnson, the state of Texas claimed that desecrating the American flag was not protected speech under the First Amendment. The U.S. Supreme Court decided that it was. In 1–2 sentences, explain why the Supreme Court made this decision.

Answer 1

The Supreme Court ruled in Texas v. Johnson that flag desecration is a form of expressive conduct protected by the First Amendment because it conveys a message and is a symbolic act of political protest, thus warranting protection despite being offensive to many. The Court emphasized that the government cannot prohibit expression simply because it is controversial or distasteful, as this would undermine the fundamental principles of free speech.