The U.S. Constitution in Five Minutes - Joseph L. Smith
30. Does the Constitution Protect Hate Speech?
The U.S. Constitution in Five Minutes - Joseph L. Smith
Timothy R. Johnson [+]
University of Minnesota
Timothy R. Johnson is Horace T. Morse Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Law at the University of Minnesota. His research focuses on Supreme Court decision making and oral arguments.
Description
Even hate-filled speech enjoys protection under the free speech clause of the First Amendment. But if the government protects such speech, it likely infringes on the rights of those to whom the speech is aimed— their 14th Amendment right to equal protection. Thus, when such cases come to the U.S. Supreme Court, they are quite difficult to decide.