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Links to Sites and Resource Information for Students and Educators interested in the flag burning - free speech debate Flag Burning and Free Speech

Duane Streufert of usflag.org has a well-designed, informative site dedicated to the Flag of the United States. The site includes flag history, patriotic literature, and other related info.  

Learn flag etiquette here.

usflag.org includes an on-line copy of the U.S. Code that outlines correct flag use laws, procedures, and etiquette including retirement burning. 

After gaining popularity during the Vietnam War, flag-burning in protests became a (no pun intended) hot topic for national debate.  Many believe burning the Flag is a symbolic exercise of self-expression and free speech, protected under the 1st Amendment of the Constitution. Others believe the Flag is a symbol of the United States, its people, its history, and its ideals of democracy and freedom.  They believe the Flag should be protected from blatant desecration.

While flag burning is not illegal, there is a group within Congress that wishes to make a Constitutional Amendment barring disrespectful burning or mutilation of the American Flag.  The last effort could not gain the two-thirds vote in the Senate.  If such an amendment were added to limit the freedom of speech, would other acts be far off to limit symbolic speech as well? That is the fear of groups such as the ACLU.

The links to the left are provided to aid students and educators in finding information dealing with the flag burning-free speech debate.  All of the sites offer a wealth of information with links to other, more specialized sites.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is adamantly against a Constitutional amendment forbidding flag burning.

Learn their view on flag burning here.

The ACLU also offers a service that allows you to e-mail your local member of Congress. Just click on "Oppose Amending the Constitution to Restrict Free Speech"

 

The Citzens Flag Alliance is a strong supporter of an amendment to the Constitution banning flag desecration.

Warren S. Apel's site The Flag-Burning Page has news, information, and even a virtual flag burner. His opinions are very much in line with the ACLU's.

The University of Missouri-Kansas City Law School has a well-organized site dealing with the Constitutional law aspects of flag burning.