Free speech Hate speech

Associate Professor Jacqueline Battalora , of St. Xavier College, was at Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU) for the Free Speech Symposium on Mar. 4 to talk about the difference between free speech and hate speech, and the harms of hate speech.

Battalora talked about the First Amendment and how hate speech abuses the freedom of speech.

"It's an acknowledgment that certain speech harms," Battalora said.                An example used during the round-table discussion of speech that harms was yelling fire in a crowded room.  In the case of hate speech, however, using racial slurs, or other forms of derogatory language, could have just as much a harmful effect as yelling fire, because it can cause an individual to feel as if they are in imminent danger of physical harm, or even have psychological effects.

There was also discussion about the social construction of "Whiteness," concerning matters of the law, because usually the "white" perspective is used.  In regards to women especially, it is the white woman's perspective used when laws effecting women are created, not just women in general. 

One way to stop, or at least lessen, the inequity of the language in the law is to "really genuinely listen to those in the subjugated community," Battalora said.

There was also discussion about Heterosexuals Organizing for a Moral Environment (HOME), which is an anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) group that sometimes shows up on campus that students feel say hurtful and untrue things about the LGBT community. 

Dr. Laurie Fuller, of the Women's Studies department at NEIU, asked if there was a way to keep them off the premises and Professor Battalora said, "The University has a right to deny any group that might 'incite violence.'"  However, what one considers valid or severe enough language to "incite violence" is another matter of discussion.

She also talked about how there are content neutral restrictions that do not help when it concerns hate speech and the First Amendment.  Battalora said, "We together get to agree on hate speech."