By Matthew Becerra, September 9, 2025
President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order Aug. 25 that bans the burning of the American flag.
Trump also directed the Justice Department to prosecute people who burn the flag with a one-year prison sentence. Students at Cal Poly Pomona have mixed feelings about this decision and its impact on their rights.
Trump’s executive order banning flag burning is not in line with the Supreme Court rulings over flag burning being protected by the First Amendment. In cases like Texas v. Johnson in 1989, it was ruled that burning the flag is a form of freedom of speech.
Alejandro Zavala, a music composition student, sees burning the flag as a form of protest and expression, which is a constitutional right. He said there is nothing wrong with it and feels it’s a way for citizens to show the government they are upset with their decisions.
“It’s not hate speech,” Zavala said. “It’s more of just expressing one’s disdain with certain policies in the country. As a form of protest, I think it’s acceptable.”
Mechanical engineering student Mikaella Juico added the president is overstepping his boundaries and said it’s hypocritical of him to ban burning the flag when the government burns flags as well.
“He’s not above the Constitution,” Juico said.“His job is to uphold it, not take away rights that are fundamental.”
As an immigrant herself, Juico sees both sides of the issue in burning the flag. She believes burning the flag sends a powerful message to the government when people feel unheard but admitted she can see it as disrespectful to people who hold the flag as a part of their community’s identity.
Math student Angel Guzman sees burning the American flags as more disrespectful than good.
“I don’t think it’s cool to burn the flag,” Guzman said. “I’m sure there has to be other ways to protest. I don’t think burning the flag should be one of them.”
However, Guzman still believes a one-year jail sentence for burning the flag is too harsh and said it should be a lighter punishment.
The first instance of flag burning was recorded during the Civil War, when Union soldiers were upset about the way the war was going. It has continued through the years with changing laws ranging from small fines to jail time, with some of the most prominent cases of young people protesting being the Vietnam War and Gary Lee Johnson protesting outside the National Republican Convention in 1989, according to NPR.
While opinions on campus are split, it echoes the nation’s divide over Trump’s executive orders. Critics both on and off campus are concerned banning flag burnings undermines the freedom the flag is supposed to represent.
