Cleveland Is Paying $225,000 to a Man Who Burned the American Flag

The New York Times ^ | 6/15/19 | Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs

[deoetdoctrinae]

After Cleveland police officers arrested Gregory L. Johnson in 2016 as he burned an American flag outside the Republican National Convention, Mr. Johnson sued the city, saying the officers had violated his First Amendment rights.

This week, three decades after the court invalidated prohibitions on flag desecration in 48 states, the city of Cleveland agreed to pay Mr. Johnson $225,000 to settle his claim that officers had retaliated against him for an exercise of free expression.

[deoetdoctrinae]

As the law stands, he is free to exercise his right to perform this demonstration of his anti-American ideology. But I believe it is important to remember and emphasize the sacrifices of so many patriots who paid for his right with their blood.

I see red

[Hildy]

I was there. I saw it.

[Vaquero]

Did have have a permit to start an open fire in the streets? That’s how you arrest these miscreants.

[DrDude]

It is called arson.

[deoetdoctrinae]

In post number one I included a link to a song that pretty well expresses my thoughts about this.

[Skywise]

So it’s okay to burn rainbow flags right?

[Migraine]

Let him burn the flag, I guess; but pay him 1/4 Mil? Horsesheet! This is like the OJ verdict. It represents the ideological divide. All lefties celebrate while conservatives seethe.

I’d rather stand before God having espoused righteousness and patriotism than to stand before Him having embraced murder and atheistic/treasonous marxism.

[Migraine]

...or how about burning a Saudi flag, with its koranic verbiage on it? Or a malcolm x poster? Or an MLK poster?

[Bob434]

but he is not free to commit arson or endanger the public with fire- Can anyone just start a fire on a public street or sidewalk? Fine him $226,000

[bgill]

It isn’t against the law to burn or urinate on or deface the US flag.

[Cobra64]

If it were up to me, anyone who burns our Flag should be treated as an enemy combatant and suffer immediate .308 consequences.

[deoetdoctrinae]

So it’s okay to burn rainbow flags right?

Well, my understanding of the law would indicate yes. But liberals are great at ignoring the law when it doesn't suit them, so you would probably go to jail if you did it.

[Vaquero]

If it was his own property it is not arson.

[Twotone]

People have been arrested for ‘disorderly conduct’ for openly carrying a gun, even in a state where it is perfectly legal to do so. Why not just charge him with that?

[SkyDancer]

Try burning a Mexican flag

[mumblypeg]

Scalia voted with the majority in Texas v. Johnson.

But this is a separate issue.
Namely, should protestors be allowed collect big bucks from a city every time they’re not allowed to burn it down?

This is a specific tactic they use.

Reckless disregard for public safety, public property.
They WANT others to get hurt, property destroyed.

But any attempt to protect others violates THEIR constitutional rights, so pay up.

And btw, they fully intend to tear up the Constitution. They’re not shy about saying so.
Written by slaveowners, ya know.

[redshawk]

So it’s okay to burn rainbow flags right?

---

You do that and every fag and freak and fairy in the country will be after you. It will be worse that The Walking Dead. Besides, that would also be classified as a hate crime.

[redshawk]

Remember what happened to that preacher who threatened to burn the COran?

[hanamizu]

Burning a rainbow, Saudi, or Mexican flag would, of course, be classified as a hate crime. You would be subject to paying damages to anyone offended, as well as becoming a target of jihad.

[Tacrolimus1mg]

Boy. For an ardent Communist, he sure loves to invoke our Constitution.