The Effects Of Free Speech On Hate Groups, And The...

The relationship of free speech to that of hate groups, and the protection of hate speech under the first Amendment is a much debated topic of ethics and civil liberties. Although affirmative action protects against discrimination of race, religion, gender, and disabilities, it only protects from discrimination in educational institutions and employment. So how can a society that claims to protect civil rights allow the production of speech that opposes those same fundamental rights?, because this form of speech, although hateful in nature, are ideas, and â€Å"hateful ideas are just as protected under the First Amendment as other ideas† (McGough, 2015). The First Amendment guarantees freedoms in regards to expression, religion, assembly, and the right to petition. Freedom of expression prohibits Congress from restricting the press or individuals the right to speak freely (Legal Information Institute, n.d.). A hate group, as stated by Walker Bragman, is â€Å"an organized group or movement that advocates and practices hatred, hostility, or violence towards members of a race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation or other designated sector of society† (Bragman, 2012). Speech that attacks, demeans, threatens, or insults a person or group on the basis of origin, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability is identified as hate speech (Random House Dictionary, 2016). By design the First Amendment was established to protect unpopular speech,Show MoreRelatedHate Speech And Freedom Of Speech1393 Words   |  6 Pages In the name of free speech, hate speech should not be tolerated. Hate speech has devastating effects on the people and communities it is targeted at. Left unchecked hate speech can lead to harmful and violent effects. Over the past few years, the effects of hate speech used on women, homosexuals, ethnic groups and religious minorities have become more and more apparent. Hate speech can be very divisive in many of the situations it is used, depending on who interprets the expression can vary howRead MorePersuasive Essay On Hate Speech1612 Words   |  7 Pages In the name of free speech, hate speech should not be tolerated. Hate speech has devastating effects on the people and communities it is targeted at. Left unchecked hate speech can lead to harmful and violent effects. Over the past few years, the effects of hate speech used on women, homosexuals, ethnic groups and religious minorities have become more and more apparent. Hate speech can be very divisive in many of the situations it is used, depending on who interprets the expression can vary ho wRead MoreHate Speech Should Be Made Illegal1351 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"GOD HATES FAGS† is the kind of hate speech used by the members of Westboro Baptist Church to grab headlines and national attention. The public backlash against them has been almost universal. The public opinion that it is reprehensible and unnecessarily hurtful is at the center of the debate on whether or not some hate speech should be made illegal. An interesting side effect is it can have a polarizing effect for good. It can bring people together to stand up against the person or group speakingRead MoreSpeech On The Bill Of Rights1153 Words   |  5 Pagesrespecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press† (Alderman and Kennedy, pg.21). Because of the First Amendment, hate speech, â€Å"no matter how offensive its content†, was â€Å"protected† under the laws (ACLZ). However, people are still de manding more. They want hate-related speech to be allowed on campuses –without knowing the effects and the damage it could do. Hate speech could bring people down, lower their confidences andRead MoreSpeech : The Freedom Of Speech Essay1624 Words   |  7 Pagesthe United States are privileged to the freedom of speech under the First Amendment, but the constitutional limits of the freedom of speech have been questioned on multiple occasions. Citizens of the United States have called upon the Supreme Court numerous times to interpret the meaning of the First Amendment, and the court has censored some forms of speech such as obscene speech --which has been prohibited--and indecent or pornographic speech--which has been regulated (Barrett, 1999). Public andRead MoreFreedom Of Expression Under Charter Framework1643 Words   |  7 PagesAnother important Supreme Court case that examined the reasonable limits on freedom of expression is R v. Whatcott. The Whatcott ruling also c hallenged the jurisdictional issues of free speech. William Whatcott, a Christian activist who advocated strongly against homosexuality and same sex marriage. Whatcott distributed several flyers in Saskatchewan that discussed political, social and moral issues. Many of these flyers heavily denouncing homosexuality using strong offensive language denouncingRead MoreProtecting The Rights Of Minority Groups1538 Words   |  7 Pagesharmed by hate speech. As a result of competing rights, the state often faces the difficult task of determining when one right trumps the other. In this essay, I will discuss and defend the reasons why we must restrict certain types of hate speech – the kind that assaults our dignity, and is harmful. Moreover, I will discuss and defend why we must protect the rights of minority groups, and how doing so can contribute to the greater good of society. To protect the rights of minority groups, governmentsRead More Hate Crime Laws Essay1378 Words   |  6 PagesI strongly support hate crime laws. Now, before I dive into this very controversial subject, I should probably define what hate crime laws are so you will have a better understanding of what I am talking about. As I have understood it, hate crime laws are laws that protect certain minorities or groups from bias motivated violence and harassment, and also more harshly punish people that commit these crimes against them. As I started to do my research on hate crime laws I beganRead MoreFreedom of Speech in America and Its Limits Essay2413 Words   |  10 Pagesdemocratic nations in the world, the United States has had its own fair share of issues with hate speech. There has been a lot of controversy over whether hate speech should be regulated. In analyzing the concept of free speech, one cannot ignore that it does not occur in a vacuum. There have been all types of debasements ranging from ethnic, religious, racial and gendered stereotyping. Freedom of speech inherently includes all other fundamental human rights. Hence, as acknowledged through naturalRead MoreHate Speech1536 Words   |  7 PagesHate Speech Essay In the first amendment of the United States constitution, American citizens are guaranteed the right to free speech. This is a fundamental right of American law, and one of the foundations of the U.S. Constitution. It is also the breeding ground for one of the most widely debated issues in America: What, if any, measures should be put into place to regulate hateful language? Most people will agree under one definition or another that hate speech is a socially deviant activity