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Someone Tell Governor Abbott That “Hate” Speech Is Free Speech…

Posted on 5/4/24 at 4:52 pm
Posted by Toomer Deplorable
Team Bitter Clinger
Member since May 2020
18108 posts
Posted on 5/4/24 at 4:52 pm


Campus chaos vindicates the American system and the First Amendment…

…The First Amendment protects a lot of things, but illegal occupations, physical violence and threats are not among them. However, Abbott’s rationale for the arrests was deeply troubling.

“Students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled,” he posted on X. In other words, it was the hate and antisemitism that justified the arrests and removals, rather than criminal activity.

The condemnation was swift and even came from conservatives.

“Greg Abbott said he was having protesters arrested because ‘antisemitism won’t be tolerated in Texas,’” Daily Wire’s Matt Walsh chimed in. “I believe in arresting people who break the law. But there is no law against antisemitism, and there shouldn’t be.”


Protecting hate speech is crucial to a free society. Why? Because bans on hate speech grant excessive power to the government to target all dissenting voices under the pretext of combating hate speech.

It is bad enough that students are being arrested for their beliefs, but what’s worse is the arrest and assault of journalists who were merely covering the protests. One such example is a local Austin Fox 7 photojournalist who was slammed to the floor by police for merely doing his job. This was not an assault just against free speech but also against the free press.

Everything about this UT Austin story is troubling. It should never be acceptable to arrest students and threaten them with expulsion for holding a set of beliefs, no matter how radical.

Charges should be brought against people who commit actual crimes, not speech. In addition, reporters and members of the press should not be assaulted for merely covering a story.

However, there is a glimmer of hope to all of this madness.

Many Americans are rightly comparing this to the suppression of speech by authoritarian regimes. But when you look more closely, it also highlights the superiority of the American system over authoritarian systems abroad.

In Iran, such protesters would have been arrested and sentenced to death. In Russia, they would have disappeared and then “died of natural causes.” In China, these videos would never make it to social media, which is heavily censored, let alone the news.

But in America, these student protesters and the journalists who were assaulted and arrested will be exonerated. In fact, the local district attorney has already declined to prosecute the students involved.

Posted by Strannix
District 11
Member since Dec 2012
49124 posts
Posted on 5/4/24 at 4:54 pm to
You cant criticize certain groups
Posted by Thundercles
Mars
Member since Sep 2010
5170 posts
Posted on 5/4/24 at 4:55 pm to
Abbott messed up in conflating two issues. He can personally condemn what he deems hate speech but can't and shouldn't have anyone arrested for it.

However, campus protestors that get out of hand for any reason absolutely should be arrested, and I'm glad to see it happen. If he had the foresight to separate these two thoughts he'd be in a much better place right now.
Posted by Seldom Seen
Member since Feb 2016
40717 posts
Posted on 5/4/24 at 4:59 pm to


Posted by Lsut81
Member since Jun 2005
80328 posts
Posted on 5/4/24 at 5:05 pm to
Stupid comment like others have said… you’re free to say and protest whatever the hell you want. It’s just how and where you do it.

No different than the far right that want religious freedom in schools but then throw a bitch fit when a Satan club is formed.
Posted by thetempleowl
dallas, tx
Member since Jul 2008
14897 posts
Posted on 5/4/24 at 5:06 pm to
They weren't arrested because they are disgusting animals.

They weren't arrested for saying hooting things.

They weren't arrested for supporting terrorists.

They were arrested for illegality protesting.

They were arrested for trespassing.

They were arrested for not following lawful orders to disperse.

They were arrested for lots of reasons.

They deserved to be arrested for the above reasons and more.

The fact that they are vile animals who spread hate and hate America is just a bonus reason and why so many people live to see them arrested for multiple crimes.

Posted by Epaminondas
The Boot
Member since Jul 2020
4303 posts
Posted on 5/4/24 at 5:09 pm to
Our sacred Jewish people must never hear a discouraging word. Our sacred black people must never be upset either. Then there are the trans people and homosexuals and furries. Really, the only solution is total lockdowns until no one is sad.
Posted by IndianPower
Louisiana
Member since May 2021
772 posts
Posted on 5/4/24 at 5:15 pm to
Were people not being allowed into certain areas on the campus because of their ethnicity and/or race?

Were the same stated above being assaulted?
Posted by Von
Wichita Falls, TX
Member since Feb 2019
1963 posts
Posted on 5/4/24 at 5:40 pm to
quote:

Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period.


Texas doesn't have a hate speech law but he felt compelled to say it.
That's where the political winds blew him. To be expected.
Not defending him, not a fan. He really should call up Paxton before making any statements.
Posted by auggie
Opelika, Alabama
Member since Aug 2013
28348 posts
Posted on 5/4/24 at 6:11 pm to
Unpopular speech, is the only kind that needs Constitutional protection and the 1st Amendment was created specifically for this reason.
Why would popular speech require any protection?
Posted by udtiger
Over your left shoulder
Member since Nov 2006
99528 posts
Posted on 5/4/24 at 6:12 pm to
Hate speech

"I'll take things that don't actually exist separate from free speech for $1000 Alex"
Posted by TenWheelsForJesus
Member since Jan 2018
6746 posts
Posted on 5/4/24 at 6:20 pm to
quote:

One such example is a local Austin Fox 7 photojournalist who was slammed to the floor by police for merely doing his job. 


Is this the journalist that was caught on video hitting a cop in the back with his camera before another cop pulled him away and then pretended to be innocent when he was being arrested?
Posted by LSUSUPERSTAR
TX
Member since Jan 2005
16345 posts
Posted on 5/4/24 at 6:22 pm to
Remember, Abbott waited before grandstanding about the porous border. He is weak and just follows the political winds.
Posted by roadGator
Member since Feb 2009
141101 posts
Posted on 5/4/24 at 6:25 pm to
Do like Florida did. Hand out the rules. Explain the consequence For breaking the rules

The rules get enforced.

All said rules only relate to where you can protest and what you can do. Not what you say.

Arrest the frick out of the rule breakers.
Posted by NYNolaguy1
Member since May 2011
20960 posts
Posted on 5/4/24 at 7:04 pm to
The problem is not hate speech but actionable hate speech.

Theres a big difference between saying "Free Palestine" and "We are going to erase you, your family, and your culture from your lands like we did on October 7th".

The Hamas supporters at these universities don't know the difference nor do their financial backers care.
Posted by ChineseBandit58
Pearland, TX
Member since Aug 2005
43042 posts
Posted on 5/5/24 at 4:57 am to
quote:

Protecting hate speech

wait - I thought there were actual laws that make hate speech a crime.

hell, there are certain words you cannot even say - regardless of intent or context.

Posted by SouthEasternKaiju
SouthEast... you figure it out
Member since Aug 2021
25748 posts
Posted on 5/5/24 at 7:47 am to
There is no hate speech. No gender affirming care. No assault weapons.

Every time we use the language of the Left, they win. They've moved the Overton window in their favor.


It's pathetic to see those on our side bend the knee to the language nazis and them thinking that they're "relating" to the public. They aren't.
Posted by idlewatcher
County Jail
Member since Jan 2012
79516 posts
Posted on 5/5/24 at 7:51 am to
I agree with OP but Abbott isn’t having APD arrest people because of what they are chanting but for remaining after being told to leave.

His word choices were poor in this instance.
Posted by FATBOY TIGER
Valhalla
Member since Jan 2016
9126 posts
Posted on 5/5/24 at 7:59 am to
Huffines for governor.
Posted by Damone
FoCo
Member since Aug 2016
32966 posts
Posted on 5/5/24 at 8:31 am to
quote:

Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period.

Yikes that’s a dark statement. Conservatives tho! Congrats Israel cucks, you’re getting what you want. Bipartisan effort to infringe on free speech.
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