The conflict of this case originated when American Gregory Lee Johnson burned a U.S. flag as a way of protest against the government, in front of the Dallas City Hall, in 1984. Afterward, he was tried and convicted because he had violated a Texas law that outlawed flag desecration. Eventually, the case went to the Supreme Court.
In the Court, it was determined that burning a flag was a form of free expression protected under the First Amendment and that just because certain ideas or forms of expressions are deemed offensive or disagreeable by society, does not mean that they can be prohibited. Therefore, this case affirmed the personal right of freedom of speech or expression protected in the First Amendment.
The Court also held that state officials did not have the authority to designate symbols (like the flag) to be used to communicate limited sets of messages.
"Separation of church and state" is paraphrased from Thomas Jefferson and used by others in expressing an understanding of the intent and function of the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
