Essay: The First Amendment Of The Constitution Is Protected Under The Freedom Of Expression

Over 200 years after the Constitution was drafted and it is still being revised. The United States is still evolving and figuring out how to keep the citizens safe and equal under the law. A reoccurring controversial topic is the first amendment in the Constitution. What exactly is protected under the Freedom of Speech? Freedom of Expression allows for an American citizen to have the right to free speech and a free press. Expressions include more than just words, they compromise of clothing, gestures, movements, and other expressive nonverbal conduct. The controversial part is exactly what can a citizen say and express? The simple answer is that a citizen can say what they like as long as it doesn’t impose on another citizen’s safety. In 1969, students wore black armbands to show their opposition towards the Vietnam War. The school district the students belonged to was not fond of the idea and tried to ban it. In retaliation the students brought the case to court. The verdict was that the students were protected under the first amendment to wear their armbands, even if it went against the popular belief. This case was to be known as Tinker v. Des Moines School District. Just twenty years later and another incident occurs, can flags be burnt? According to the Supreme Court, any state law that forbids the burning of the American flag as a peaceful protest also violated
The Amendment was ratified in 1791 and since then the Supreme Court either expands or contracts the rights of the people as it sees fit. Americans are allowed to burn the most important symbol, the American flag, in a peaceful protest. Which is a clear indication that the First Amendment is meant to give people symbolic speech as one of their guaranteed freedoms. The laws are to benefit every single American and not just those in power. Everyone is protected under the first amendment, the poor, the rich, the successful, and those in middle