May extremists claim First Amendment protection for illegal behavior that also involves speech?
No. The government may punish illegal conduct even if it contains a speech component. For example, if an extremist puts bogus license plates with anti-government slogans on his car, he may be cited for violating motor vehicle laws even though the plates themselves contain an expressive element. Protestors who engage in acts of criminal intimidation or assault do not receive protection simply because they commit those acts while simultaneously exercising their right to free speech.
