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The key paragraph is at the end: > Charges [were] dropped. > Apparently, Calhoun County deputies in Iowa never got the memo about the Supreme Court precedent

by dalke 10y ago

The key paragraph is at the end: > Charges [were] dropped. > Apparently, Calhoun County deputies in Iowa never got the memo about the Supreme Court precedent protecting flag burning as a form of free speech and expression, and have perhaps unwittingly violated Martz’s civil rights when they arrested him and charged Martz with a crime. > And that could be grounds for a lawsuit. Hanging a flag upside-down as a protest is protected free speech. No state law can override that decision.

Broken_Hippo 10y ago
In context, I figured the charges being dropped referred to the dude in Illinois arrested for flag burning previously, instead of the Calhoun man's charges being dropped. Either way, it does seem that it would be protected speech.
- dalke 10y ago
  Mmm, I may have mixed up the context myself. FWIW, a lot of people have flown the flag upside down in protest. http://www.commondreams.org/news/2009/07/11/upside-down-flag-has-vet-fight-1st-amendment-rights http://www.commondreams.org/news/2009/07/11/upside-down-flag... http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/upside-down-distress-flag-upsets-fla-community-article-1.1201461 http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/upside-down-distres... http://www.thegazette.com/subject/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/fly-flag-upside-down-to-protest-officeholders-20140711 http://www.thegazette.com/subject/opinion/letters-to-the-edi... http://seattle.cbslocal.com/2013/06/03/oregon-man-flying-american-flag-upside-down-to-protest-obama-presidency/ http://seattle.cbslocal.com/2013/06/03/oregon-man-flying-ame... http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/woman-angers-hoa-by-hanging-flag-union-down-as-war-protest http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/woman-angers-hoa-by-han... Quoting the last: > "The United States Supreme Court has been clear since as early as the 1930s that the flag can be flown in various ways as a demonstration of political viewpoints," said Hammer's attorney, Mari Newman.

by dalke 10y ago

Broken_Hippo 10y ago

In context, I figured the charges being dropped referred to the dude in Illinois arrested for flag burning previously, instead of the Calhoun man's charges being dropped. Either way, it does seem that it would be protected speech.

dalke 10y ago
Mmm, I may have mixed up the context myself. FWIW, a lot of people have flown the flag upside down in protest. http://www.commondreams.org/news/2009/07/11/upside-down-flag-has-vet-fight-1st-amendment-rights http://www.commondreams.org/news/2009/07/11/upside-down-flag... http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/upside-down-distress-flag-upsets-fla-community-article-1.1201461 http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/upside-down-distres... http://www.thegazette.com/subject/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/fly-flag-upside-down-to-protest-officeholders-20140711 http://www.thegazette.com/subject/opinion/letters-to-the-edi... http://seattle.cbslocal.com/2013/06/03/oregon-man-flying-american-flag-upside-down-to-protest-obama-presidency/ http://seattle.cbslocal.com/2013/06/03/oregon-man-flying-ame... http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/woman-angers-hoa-by-hanging-flag-union-down-as-war-protest http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/woman-angers-hoa-by-han... Quoting the last: > "The United States Supreme Court has been clear since as early as the 1930s that the flag can be flown in various ways as a demonstration of political viewpoints," said Hammer's attorney, Mari Newman.