Texas v. Johnson held that flag burning is what under the First Amendment?

• A. Flag burning is protected symbolic speech under the First Amendment.
• B. Flag burning is illegal in all contexts.
• C. Symbolic acts have no First Amendment protection.
• D. Only speech with words is protected.

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is that the First Amendment protects not just words, but expressive actions as well—symbolic speech. In Texas v. Johnson, the Supreme Court ruled that burning the American flag as a form of political protest conveys a message and is protected as expressive conduct. The government may not punish or ban such symbolic acts simply because it finds them offensive or disagreeable. The Court treated flag desecration as a form of speech and applied First Amendment scrutiny, finding that a law banning the act fails to serve a compelling government interest and is not narrowly tailored, especially since it targets a specific message about the flag.

So, the best answer is that flag burning is protected symbolic speech under the First Amendment. The other statements contradict the decision by claiming there is no protection for symbolic acts, or that the act is illegal in all contexts, or that only spoken words count as speech.