Source
r/C4CD•
machinegunmonkey

On The Subject Of Hate Speech

General Discussion

After a lot of feedback and self-reflection, I want to open up a discussion about our official stance on defending hate speech.

I have a lot of strong personal feelings about hate speech that I think I projected onto our official stance, and I want to come up with a consensus on how we should handle it as an organization, not just as my personal beliefs.

This coalition is built around protecting ALL First Amendment speech, it's what unites a diverse group like us in a common goal. In 2017 the Supreme Court ruled that hate speech was protected under free speech, and if we start to choose what speech we do and don't protect, I'm afraid we risk losing sight of what our goal is.

With that in mind, what are your thoughts on how we handle hate speech as an organization?

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Posted Jun 4, 2020, 10:42 PM UTC

105
lampposttt•

I think your reconsideration shows a lot of maturity, and reflects well on the leadership of the group.

As I messaged you before, I strongly detest hate speech and certainly refuse to be a part of any group that condones it internally, but I still believe that we must protect the right of other to say anything they want publicly, so that we can maintain our right to publicly shame or them, or anyone else that's committing vile or distasteful acts.

11
Trot1995•

Yeah hate speech is protected, but so is our right to call them out on their vile rhetoric. We should condemn it and not tolerate it within the group while still recognizing and protecting peoples rights to free expression.

3
mitzelplick•

I agree that hate speech is distasteful, but to borrow a term from you, I'll die on that hill to defend the right to express it. Especially given that there are so many interpretations of what is and is not hate speech. We either stand for everyone, or become just another politically motivated entity. There are more than enough of those.

5
machinegunmonkeyOPFounder•

Yep, totally agree and it was my conversation with you that made me realize that no matter what hills I choose to die on in my personal life, this is bigger than me and I shouldn't commit the group to dying on my hills for my personal politics.

I called this group a coalition because it's supposed to bring together different sides for a common goal, while leaving the politics aside. No matter what my personal views are I'm willing to defend ALL free speech, including the right to hate speech, if that's what we decide our mission is about.

2
mitzelplick•

Wish everyone was able to make this type of self evaluation, and realizing that politics do NOT have to stand in the way of working towards a common goal. Left, Right, conservative, black, white, yellow, brown, green, orange, straight, gay, lesbian, trans, we are all people first, we are also all Americans. That should come first to my mind. Perhaps to that end, displaying ANY type of flag, slogan, or political symbol should be discouraged, and wearing one of our own making. Media will grab on to anything it can to start shit, as will LEO (and you have no idea how much it pains me to say that).Remember to send me the info when you determine what com programs you want to use. Id be happy to help any way I can. Ive got a few others that feel this way, in fact, we are headed to Tampa this weekend to stand at a locally owned and operated business to make sure it stays intact from looting, there's alot of minority and immigrant employees depending on the place for their livelihood. Tampa has been pretty bad lately.

2