An executive order targeting flag burning was signed in the Oval Office with staffers and reporters present. The order aims to criminalize flag burning despite Supreme Court rulings protecting flag desecration as free speech. The order cites protests tied to George Floyd's murder, campus protests about the war in Gaza, and other political demonstrations. The executive statement claims flag burning incites riots, causes people to "go crazy," and can lead to violence. The order argues foreign nationals use flag burning to intimidate Americans. The order attempts to circumvent Supreme Court precedent by emphasizing potential incitement and fighting-words exceptions.
This is very important. Flag burning, all over the country, they're burning flags. All over the world, they burn the American flag. And as you know, through a very sad court, I guess it was a 5-to-4 decision they called it freedom of speech. But there's another reason, which is perhaps much more important. It's called death. Because what happens when you burn a flag is the area goes crazy. If you have hundreds of people, they go crazy.
The order posted on the White House website attempts to circumvent the Supreme Court precedent by declaring that the flag is a representation of America, and burning it may incite violence and riot, adding that American Flag burning is also used by groups of foreign nationals as a calculated act to intimidate and threaten violence against Americans because of their nationality and place of birth.
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