Should it be illegal to fly the Confederate flag on public property?

While the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution allows people to fly the Confederate flag on their own property, the government is not required to permit all forms of speech on public property.

Multiple courts have upheld restrictions prohibiting confederate flags from being displayed in public places, while courts in some states, including Alabama, have approved their display atop state buildings.

In New Hampshire, two cases last year illustrate the topic is still up for debate. In Canaan, a municipal employee was told in the summer he could no longer fly a Confederate flag from his pickup truck while on town property.

Last fall in Conway, students were told they could no longer fly the Confederate flag nor wear hats or clothing that depict the image of the flag at Kennett High School.

Even situations that involve displaying the Confederate flag on private property, such as one in White River Junction Vermont, which is just over the New Hampshire border, can often turn contentious.

Those in favor of being allowed to fly the Confederate flag cite free speech protections under the First Amendment. Opponents, however, argue it is a symbol of oppression and offensive.