Court Opinion

ID: 9742505
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 21:15:13.498866+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:33.013996
License: Public Domain

*522McCORMICK, Justice
(concurring specially).
I. I do not believe defendant’s use of the flag could be found to be flag desecration. He did nothing to defile or cast contempt on the flag. Rather he turned it upside down to symbolize what he believed was an inversion of national ideals caused by Vietnam War policy. It was his way of accusing the makers of that policy of not being true to the flag. Under the stipulated facts his conduct was the antithesis of flag desecration.
II. I also adhere to the views in my dissent in State v. Farrell, 209 N.W.2d 103 (Iowa 1973). Here as there I do not believe the State demonstrated any legitimate governmental interest sufficient to override defendant’s right of free speech. I agree with the majority in the present case that the First Amendment will not permit use of a flag desecration statute to suppress dissent or to compel mindless conformity.
I concur in the result.