In other words, it is not an offence to burn the US flag in exercise of free speech. This is reflected in the article sir. It’s like saying the “purported offence” of burning the US flag in exercise of free speech is illegal.

Thanks for the interaction, sir. I hope my position is clearer now. Kindly refer to the following as contained in the article:

The court ruled that the First Amendment to the Constitution prevented the use of the statute to prosecute Gregory Lee Johnson, who had burned an American flag to protest President Ronald Reagan’s nomination as presidential candidate. This decision led to the enactment of the Flag Protection Act of 1989 to protect the sacredness of the American Flag.

Again in 1990, the US Supreme Court in United States v Eichman, held that prosecution of a person for burning the American flag is a violation to the First Amendment.