Jaelyn R. Smith
js105916@ohio.edu
Hate crimes and hate speech are detrimental to a well-functioning democracy. America’s democracy inhabits a society that is increasingly evolving into a more diverse demographic makeup. This being said, it is the individuals who produce such diversity, that are becoming victims of violence, words, and other various actions rooted in hate, privilege, and power.
We have seen oppressive ideologies existing as a reality throughout history: The enslavement of African Americans from the time of America’s founding in 1776, until the 13th amendment passed in 1865. Even so, African American’s and all people of color continues to face a tremendous amount of prejudice. The Trail of Tears forced Native Americans out of their home and to relocate by walking over 5,043 miles, across nine states. Police raiding LGBTQ+ bars and overall police brutality towards the community in Greenwich Village, New York City, resulted in the Stonewall riots. Sadly, history has begun to repeat itself.
Hate crimes and hate speech have increased with an alarming velocity since 2016. Parts of the public believe this to be true, others believe it just receives more attention, but there is a margin of individuals who can see it as both. Meaning, it is talked about more because it occurs more.
According to the Department of Justice, hate crime incidents in 2019 included 7,103 single biased incidents, involving 8,552 victims. Bias motivation categories for single bias incidents were: 57.6 percent race, ethnicity, or ancestry, 20.1 percent religion, 16.7 percent sexual orientation, 2.7 percent gender identity, 2 percent disability, and .9 percent gender.
Knowing these biases, there were 211 multiple biased incidents that occurred, involving 260 victims.
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| Picture source: Silence Hides Violence Foundation |
Katia Campbell gave a TedTalk called The Freedom of Hate Speech: A Call for Civil Disorder, at Metropolitan State University of Denver. She described how herself, her family, and her community had been victimized by hate within society. Her father was the first black architect in the small town that they lived in. Local Ku Klux Klan member terrorized him, his family and their community. Injustice was realized and the community did not back down. They took turns escorting her father and watching over her family’s home. In light of those experiences, her eyes were opened, thus she has identified a reappearance of hateful ideologies and political leaders giving those ideologies a platform for legitimacy; because of that, it is once again time to fight back.
In order to effectively do so, it is important to first understand one of the main justifications for free speech. Justifications revolve around the market place of ideal theory, commonly discussed by John Stuart Mills. This theory suggested that society acted as an open market for sharing ideas until the truth was found. Ancient Greeks were some of the earliest teachers of rhetoric; because persuasions and arguments were imperative for a society to function, they said, “truth comes from the clash of arguments.” As Campbell noted this, she reminded that this simple phrase is of the upmost importance because it says “arguments,” not ill-informed opinions.
While none of this is advocating for censorship, it does advocate for the American duty of fully understanding the first amendment. In turn, it should be known that the first amendment within itself holds responsibilities, as well as consequences. Hate speech and hate crimes are unacceptable within a society that claims to be progressive. This is why participation in national awareness like National Hate Crime Week and events like marches, protests, sit-ins, and petitioning are imperative right now. American democracy should aim to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people, that is impossible with excuses being made in instances of hate. In the end, speech and crimes will not only hurt people and property, but society as a whole.
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