November 29, 2016

Forget the First Amendment. Donald Trump Now Wants to Criminalize Flag Burning.

“Perhaps a loss of citizenship or a year in jail!”

Brian Cahn/ZUMA

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In 1989, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that flag burning constituted free speech and was therefore protected under the First Amendment—a decision even the late Justice Antonin Scalia agreed with.

President-elect Donald Trump, however, has a different opinion. He tweeted the following proposal on Tuesday:

Trump’s tweet is another terrifying sign of how he may crack down on dissent during his administration, even if it means trampling the Constitution in the process. 

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This is how change happens.

One story at a time.

This investigative reporting takes time too. Months of research. Weeks of writing, editing, and fact checking—and putting together the photography, art, video, and audio that tell the stories in a new way, illuminating new perspectives and voices.

We can afford to take our time because we don’t report to oligarchs or corporations. We report to you, and for you.

And the stakes are high. Democracy is on the defense. We’ve been exposing corruption and scandal for five decades, and this is a pivotal moment in our country’s history. Will democracy prevail? We won’t wait for time to tell—independent journalism is essential for democracy, and we’ll keep doing our part to amplify the free press.

So, we’re asking: Will you join the fight? Mother Jones has been here for 50 years, and we need your support to fuel the future of investigative journalism. Mark our 50th anniversary with a gift of any amount.

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