| revcom.us
20 June 2019 For immediate release
Contact: Larry Everest 202 556 3906
After Trump’s Call to “Bring your flags” Gregory “Joey” Johnson Pledges to Burn American Flag on July 4th
The day after Trump’s called on supporters in Orlando to “bring your flags, bring those flags" to Washington, DC on July 4th, Gregory “Joey” Johnson, who The New York Times has called “America’s Most Famous Flag Burner” issued the following message to Trump:
“On July 4th, I will be part of the movement to burn the American flag in different places that symbolize the reality of what this flag stands for. And I’m not saying where I’m going to be doing this, but I am saying that I am going to be doing this in a way and in a place that will be quite legal, but which will unmistakably challenge and expose your whole fascist regime and agenda.”
Trump has repeatedly called for outlawing flag burning and has now taken over the annual July 4th celebration in Washington, DC. Trump is planning “a big fascist rally,” Johnson says, “promoting America First, saluting the military as he threatens war on Iran.” On July 4th, Johnson will be taking part in actions envisioning a radically different future without imperialism, exploitation, oppression: “Imagine a World Without America.”
Johnson’s 1989 Supreme Court case (Texas v Johnson) established the Constitutional right to burn the American flag in protest and is now taught at law schools across the country as a crucial case in First Amendment law.
This case arose from his arrest for burning an American flag at the 1984 Republican National Convention, and takes on heightened importance today given Trump’s assaults on political rights, the media, and the rule of law.
Earlier this month, Johnson won a $225,000 legal settlement from the city of Cleveland stemming from his 2016 arrest for burning an American flag at the Republican Convention as Trump was being nominated. (See, “Cleveland Is Paying $225,000 to a Man Who Burned the American Flag,” The New York Times, June 15)
5 min VIDEO: Joey Johnson on why he still burns the flag, how selling “Stars and Stripes” newspaper as an “Army brat” youth opened his eyes, and whether he considers himself an American.
VIDEO: Joey Johnson’s 2016 flag burning arrest in Cleveland outside Republican National Convention
Johnson is available for interviews at 202 556 3906 @Joey4Revolution
This week Joey Johnson was interviewed on Fox News’ Liberty File with Judge Andrew Napolitano for future posting.
Joey Johnson is an active member of the Revolution Club and a follower of the revolutionary communist leader Bob Avakian. For more go to revcom.us.
Get a free email subscription to revcom.us:
