Berkeley Leftists Burn Flags, in Miniature, to Mark Decision
- Share via
BERKELEY — A group of leftists celebrated the day-old U.S. Supreme Court decision permitting destruction of the American flag by torching some “flags” Thursday outside the UC Berkeley campus.
Instead of burning full-sized, regular flags, the group known as the Revolutionary Communist Youth Brigade set aflame miniature paper flags on toothpicks and then stepped on the charred remains.
“We’re not out to do what the press wants us to do,” said Raoul Lagos, the local head of the group. “We’re not making a political point. Our intention is to celebrate.”
The Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 on Wednesday in favor of Gregory Johnson, who burned a flag during a protest at the 1984 Republican National Convention in Dallas. The court majority said that to burn the flag as a political protest is a right guaranteed by the First Amendment.
“We’re not saying thank you to the court,” Lagos said. “We want to turn the heat on the flag and expose the American imperialism it stands for.”
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
