User Clip: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) protects the United States flag - June 27, 2006

THE SUPREME COURT HELD THAT THE GOVERNMENT MAY PROHIBIT PEOPLE FROM BURNING CROSSES WITH THE INTENT TO INTIMIDATE. NOW, THAT SHOULD SEEM A PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD PROPOSITION BUT IT WAS CALLED INTO QUESTION SO THE CASE MADE ITS WAY TO THE SUPREME COURT. AND THE COURT CONCLUDED THAT LAWS MAY, IN FACT, BAN CROSS BURNINGS MEANT TO INTIMIDATE BECAUSE BURNING A CROSS IS A PARTICULARLY VIRULENT FORM OF INTIMIDATION. NOW, BURNING A FLAG TO ME IS ALSO DESPICABLE AND I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO DENYING. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR FLAG, AMERICANS EMOTIONS RUN DEEP.n WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT THE FLAG AND IT'S DELIBERATELY, MALICIOUSLY DESTROYED, THAT IS AN INTIMIDATING EXPERIENCE IN MANY INSTANCES. I AGREE THAT THIS BURNING, THIS DESECRATION THAT CAN HAPPEN TO OUR FLAG IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE HAVE A RIGHT TO ASK THIS BODY TO TRY TO PROHIBIT AND PREVENT. SO I HOPE, MR. PRESIDENT, THAT WE CAN PASS A LAW THAT CRIMINALIZES FLAG BURNING AND DESECRATION, THAT IS CONSTITUTIONAL AND CAN SURVIVE SUPREME CO close