Attorney K-Sue Park, The New York Times, August 17, 2017, argues that the American Civil Liberties Union should reconsider its stance on protecting hate speech since it helps hate groups to project their bigotry and makes no inroads into securing a freedom and security for people of color.
ACLU member Bruce Hartford, Huffington Post, August 19, 2017, writes that the white-supremacists in Charlottesville reminded him of Nazis marching in Germany to intimidate and silence Jews, gypsies, gays and political opponents. The KKK conducted rallies and cross burnings to enforce segregation and block Blacks from voting. He considers such displays of hate speech in fact a form of action and consequently subject to restriction.
Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic, August 23, 2017, argues that now more than ever it is critical that a broad reading of the First Amendment prevails. Laws against hate speech could keep Nazis and the KKK from marching to the beat of their racist and anti-Semitic chants but in process empower leaders like Donald Trump to take on groups such as Black Lives Matter. Laws against incitement could also give Trump grounds for pursuing what he calls the “alt-left.” “A weakened First Amendment in today’s climate would be marshaled against Trump’s opponents, even as it robbed them of their ability to fight back. It would be a gift to white supremacists, not a blow against them,” writes Friedersdorf.