Texas v. Johnson at 30: Flag Burning and the First Amendment

In 1984, Gregory "Joey" Johnson burned an American flag in a protest outside the Republican National Convention in Dallas. Johnson was arrested, tried and convicted for “desecration of a venerated object” and sentenced to a year in jail. He fought the case until his victory in 1989 in the Supreme Court.

Join us to hear from Johnson about why he burned the American flag in protest; his experiences as a defendant; the attacks on the Court's landmark ruling; the dangers of xenophobic and forced patriotism; and the danger to rights of political dissent and the rule of law. Johnson will also take questions from Columbia Law Professor Vince Blasi and audience members.