July 21, 2016 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us
For Immediate Release contact: Revolution Books 216 932 2543
21 July 2016
http://www.revcom.us/
Gregory "Joey" Johnson Burns American Flag Outside Republican Convention; He and 16 Revolutionary Communists & Others Arrested
What: Press Conference on Wednesday's Flag Burning Action & Arrests
When: Thursday July 21 9:30 am
Where: Cleveland “Justice” Center 1300 Ontario at Lakeside
Joey Johnson burning the American flag outside Republican Convention in Cleveland. He and 16 other revolutionary communists were arrested. (Photo: special to revcom.us)
Gregory "Joey" Johnson, the notorious flag-burner who won the Supreme Court case Texas v. Johnson after he burned the American flag outside the Dallas RNC in 1984, succeeded in burning the American flag outside the RNC in Cleveland today. As decided in the Supreme Court case Johnson vs. Texas, this is constitutionally protected speech.
“Donald Trump's message of America first is a fascist message of control over the people of the world, waging unending war to exploit people all over the planet. America is number 1? America always has been first – at genocide, at slavery, at exploitation, and destruction of the environment, at torture, at coup d'etats. Bob Avakian, leader of the revolution, says 'American lives are NOT more important than other people's lives,'” announced Joey Johnson before burning the American flag.
“Police claim that Johnson lit himself on fire and they were protecting him,” said Sunsara Taylor, a supporter of the Revolutionary Communist Party. “This is a lie made up to justify their illegitimate attack on protected political speech they wanted to suppress. Inside the arena, a fascist mob is whipped up on American supremacy and domination. If you can't burn the American flag to speak against that there is no meaning to 'free speech.'”
Johnson was violently tackled to the ground by several police, his shirt which read, “BA Speaks: Revolution, Nothing Less!” was shredded, and he was arrested along with 16 other revolutionary communists and others. As they were taken away, they continued chanting, “1, 2, 3, 4 – Slavery, Genocide, and War! 5, 6, 7, 8 – America Was NEVER Great!” Other communists and unaffiliated protesters joined them in this chant. They also chanted, “What's the problem? The whole damn system! What's the solution? Revolution! Who's our leader? Bob Avakian!”
Carl Dix, founding member of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA, is available for interview. Carl Dix was on the scene. He refused to fight in Vietnam back in the 60s and did two years in military prison for this stand. Dix also co-founded, together with Cornel West, the Stop Mass Incarceration Network and protests against police brutality around the country.
Joey Johnson, notorious flag burner and revolutionary communist, available for interview upon release from jail.
Contact Debra Sweet 718 809 3803
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