Flag burning is legal in the United States based on Supreme Court rulings that it is constitutionally protected speech under the First Amendment.
#Burning gay flag hate crime trial
Especially when you consider burning an American flag is not considered a hate crime. An Omaha man accused of burning his neighbors' gay pride flag last month will stand trial for arson aggravated by a hate crime.'I have gay friends and I apologize to my neighbors,' Mayfield said.
6 thoughts on 15 years for burning a gay pride flagThe penalty DOES NOT fit the crime F J on 12/20. Regardless of the chosen sentence, 6 years, 15 years, or anything in between seems a bit much for burning a flag. Last year, two Kearns High School football players were suspended for posting a video of someone burning a pride flag. Story County Attorney Jessica Reynolds said the hate crime charges were added because Martinez is suspected of criminal mischief against someone’s property because of what it represents as far as sexual orientation. It comes after a video showing a Ridgeline High School student cutting down a pride flag during gained widespread attention online in April. “We have a lot of people that are part of the LGBTQ community, and it’s hard to see other people’s property being destroyed for having different beliefs from someone else’s,” said police officer Lexi Benson. It's now being investigated as a hate crime. Police originally considered it a criminal mischief call, until they found a note left behind that contained derogatory terms and cited Bible scriptures to condemn the LGBTQ community. KAYSVILLE, Utah (AP) Police in Utah are investigating a possible hate crime after a rainbow pride flag was burned and a note targeting the LGBTQ community was left. 18 to a whopping 15 years in prison for the hate crime of arson, according to The Associated Press, after his five-year sentence was tripled due to his status as a. Adolfo Martinez of Ames was sentenced Dec. Police in Utah are investigating a possible hate crime after a rainbow pride flag was burned and a note targeting the LGBTQ community was left behind. KAYSVILLE, Utah (AP) - Police in Utah are investigating a possible hate crime after a rainbow pride flag was burned and a note targeting the LGBTQ community was left behind.Ī homeowner in Kaysville told police early Thursday morning that a flag was cut from a flagpole and set on fire in the street, KSL NewsRadio reported. flags across the nation, an Iowa man is paying a heavy price for burning a rainbow LGBT pride flag.