Hate speech has recently been a buzz word in politics and in daily conversations about diversity, inclusivity, and equality. Hate speech is a controversial topic and some politicians are debating whether there need to be legal restrictions on hate speech. Before we get into the arguments, it is important to define the term. Hate speech is defined as a communication that carries no meaning other than the expression of hatred for some group, especially in circumstances in which the communication is likely to provoke violence. Hate speech can be any form of expression regarded as offensive to racial, ethnic and religious groups and other discrete minorities or to women.
Should we ban hate speech? Is it an important problem needed to be addressed? Or, is hate speech free speech? Is hate speech protected by our first amendment?
On one side, politicians view hate speech as no exception to the first amendment. Justice Samuel Alito expresses his thoughts on hate speech in a 2016 case:
“[The idea that the government may restrict] speech expressing ideas that offend … strikes at the heart of the First Amendment. Speech that demeans on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, disability, or any other similar ground is hateful; but the proudest boast of our free speech jurisprudence is that we protect the freedom to express “the thought that we hate.”
Others, however, view hate speech as a threat to peace and hospitality on the streets of a democratic free society. In the debate over hate speech vs. free speech, many Americans express a concern that the number-one priority should be the well-being of the community, and that a person’s right to freedom of speech can and should be limited if it poses a threat to that community’s well-being.
One student, freshman Shayne Yanes, believes that “government should hold platforms responsible for limiting hate speech. Individuals on the street shouldn’t be held responsible for hate speech.” He views hate speech as “any public outcry to incite violence against any groups of people.”
