gallo

Not sure of which forum this belongs in.

Interesting turn of events. This case is an appeal from the Virginia Supreme Court that overturned two convictions for cross burning. The Virginia court decided that cross burning was free speech, just as is flag burning. The precedent is a decision by the Supreme Court that struck down a St. Paul cross burning ordinance [R.A.V. v. ST. PAUL, 505 U.S. 377 (1992)]. Arguments are scheduled for this fall.

<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/29/national/29SCOT.html" target="_blank">Free Speech or Hate Speech? Court Weighs Cross Burning</a>from the NY Times.

<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2002/LAW/05/28/scotus.crossburning.ap/index.html" target="_blank">High court to consider free speech challenge to cross burning bans</a> from CNN.

[ May 29, 2002: Message edited by: gallo ]</p>

The Other Michael

Hi Gallo,

It might belong in the C&S forum.

My impression is that the cross burning has been labeled hate speech not because they are burning crosses, but because the intent of the cross burning is to instill fear into a target audience.

Burning the US flag is generally, I'd think, done as a political statement, and as such would fall under free speech.

I do find myself wondering about allegedly religious people who "defile" or destroy their own religious symbols in order to terrorize others.

cheers,
Michael

99Percent

I will send it to the Church/State Separation forum.