https://padlet.com/echapman37/6jc4otf8rtajqajt Summarize your case and the court's ruling en-us 2021-04-07 12:52:01 UTC 2025-10-16 17:57:20 UTC hello@padlet.com http://blog.hiddenharmonies.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Freedom-of-Speech-300x224.jpg https://padlet.com/echapman37/6jc4otf8rtajqajt/wish/1422301298 In this case Simon Tam, leader or a band named " The slants", applied for a trademark. But the USPTO (U.S. Patent and Trademark office) denied their request. They denied their request because the name "the slants" was disparaging to people of Asian decent referring to the shape of there eyes. Simon Tam appealed this decision. Does this section of federal law that requires the federal government to refuse to register "disparaging" trademarks violate the First Amendment's guarantee of speech?]]> 2021-04-15 17:37:31 UTC https://padlet.com/echapman37/6jc4otf8rtajqajt/wish/1422301298 https://padlet.com/echapman37/6jc4otf8rtajqajt/wish/1422306943 In this case, Gregory Lee Johnson got involved in a group political demonstration in 1989. A demonstrator took and American flag from a flagpole and gave it to Johnson, which, he set the flag on fire. During the burning the other protesters were chanting but there was no harm or threats during the demonstration so it was peaceful. Johnson was arrested and charged with violating a Texas state law that banned the burning of the American flag, Johnson appealed his conviction saying it was violating the First Amendment, which protects free speech.

Issue: Does a law banning the burning of the flag violate the First Amendment?

The court ruled in favor of Johnson because he was protected with the first amendment because he was using symbolism.]]> 2021-04-15 17:38:33 UTC https://padlet.com/echapman37/6jc4otf8rtajqajt/wish/1422306943 https://padlet.com/echapman37/6jc4otf8rtajqajt/wish/1422314486 Virginia enacted a law in 1952 that banned all cross burning on other people's property. Expanded to all public places in 1958. Virginia's law presumed burning a cross carried intent to intimidate.
Ku Klux Klan used burning crosses to intimidate African Americans. 
May 2, 1998-. Virginia beach, VA. Teenagers were drinking at David Targee's (17) house. Richard Elliot (18) had an African American (James Jubilee) move in next to him with his pregnant wife. His new neighbors were upset about the firing range at his house. Richard and some of his friends attempted to burn a cross in his yard which made the family move. The teens plead guilty of attempting to burn a cross.
Barry Elton, member of the KKK, held a large rally where a large cross was burned. He was arrested for burning the cross. He was found guilty by the jury of violating the law against cross burning. 



The issue: Does the Virginia law that explicitly criminalizes the burning of a cross on a public or private property violate the First Amendment right.]]> 2021-04-15 17:39:46 UTC https://padlet.com/echapman37/6jc4otf8rtajqajt/wish/1422314486 https://padlet.com/echapman37/6jc4otf8rtajqajt/wish/1422429005 The court ruled in favor of the band the slants and since it is private speech the government can't stop it]]> 2021-04-15 18:01:04 UTC https://padlet.com/echapman37/6jc4otf8rtajqajt/wish/1422429005 https://padlet.com/echapman37/6jc4otf8rtajqajt/wish/1422438635 The court went in favor with the Ku Klux Klan because it was possible that they were burning the cross for another purpose.]]> 2021-04-15 18:03:01 UTC https://padlet.com/echapman37/6jc4otf8rtajqajt/wish/1422438635