HomeMy WebLinkAboutExpressing Deep Concern over the United States Supreme Court Decision on Flag BurningRE�09Llg6T8kON
Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend. Indiana
July 10, in 89
Attest:_ ___._ City Clerk
Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend,
July
11,
Approved and signed by me July_1 2
89
19
President of Common Council.
Clerk
Mayor
Bill No. 89 -61
Resolution No. _ 0 I
A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, EXPRESSING
DEEP CONCERN OVER THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT
DECISION ON FLAG BURNING
WHEREAS, on June 21, 1989, the U.S. Supreme Court
handed down a 5 -4 decision which provides that the burning
of the American flag as a form of "political protest" is
protected by the Constitution's free speech guarantees; and
WHEREAS, currently forty -eight (48) states and the
federal government have laws against flag - burning, all of
which have been jeopardized by this Supreme Court ruling,
and;
WHEREAS, since the decision was handed down, "Old
Glory" has been flying across the nation by millions of
Americans as a sign of "positive protest" against the
decision; and
WHEREAS, debate is currently taking place on a
constitutional amendment to make desecration of the United
States flag a crime; and
WHEREAS, since 1925, the State of Indiana has
recognized June 14th as "Flag Day" as a "day of observance
by the people" to display Old Glory (I.C., 1- 1- 11 -1); and
WHEREAS, since 1901, the State of Indiana, has declared
that "any person who knowingly or intentionally, and
publicly, damages, defiles, or walks on a United States
flag, standard, or ensign, or a picture or representation of
such a flag, standard, or ensign, commits flag desecration,
a Class A Misdemeanor." (I.C., 35- 45 -1 -4).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF
THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, as follows:
SECTION I. On behalf of all of the citizens of the
City of South Bend, Indiana, the Common Council hereby
voices serious and deep concern over the United States
Supreme Court Decision on flag burning.
SECTION II. The Council urges the citizens of South
Bend to contact their state and federal representatives on
this issue and encourages acts of "positive protest."
SECTION III. The Council requests the City Clerk to
send copies of this Resolution to the U.S. Supreme Court,
President Bush, and to our federal and state representatives
and senators.
SECTION IV. The Council encourages all South Bend
citizens to fly the United States flag on national holidays
and throughout the year as a demonstration of support for
"Old Glory" as a symbol of our nation's freedom.
SECTION V. This
effect from and after
approval by the Mayor.
PRESENTED 'I-10- � I
NOT APPROVED
ADOPTED-1-10-0
Resolution shall be in full force and
its adoption by the Common Council and