Hate speech and the First Amendment

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-1999

Abstract

A cornerstone of democracy is the First Amendment's protection of free speech. The founding fathers saw this as contributing to democratic government. Ironically, contemporary free speech protects groups such as Nazis, White and Black supremacists, pornographers, gangster rappers, TV violence, and gratuitous film profiteers; in short, these are agents of disorder, and have practically nothing of discourse value. This article argues that the harm of assaultive speech must be taken into account to define specific boundaries for what has been characterized as hate speech. © 1999 Sage Publication, Inc.

Publication Title

Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice

First Page Number

97

Last Page Number

110

DOI

10.1177/1043986299015001007

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