Overview

Hate speech has been a societal problem for many years and has seen a resurgence recently alongside political divisiveness and technologies that ease and accelerate the spread of messages. Methods to protect individuals and groups from hate speech have eluded lawmakers as the call for restrictions or bans on such speech are confronted by claims of First Amendment protection. Problematic speech, the argument goes, should be confronted by more speech rather than by restriction. Debate over the extent of First Amendment protection is based on two bodies of law—the practical, precedent determined by the Supreme Court, and the theoretical framework of First Amendment jurisprudence. In Hate Speech is Not Free: The Case Against Constitutional Protection, W. Wat Hopkins argues that the prevailing thought that hate is protected by both case law and theory is incorrect. Within the Supreme Court’s established hierarchy of speech protection, hate speech falls to the lowest level, deserving no protection as it does not advance ideas containing social value. Ultimately, the Supreme Court’s cases addressing protected and unprotected speech set forth a clear rationale for excommunicating hate speech from First Amendment protection.

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9781538165614

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An in-depth critique of hate speech and its proper place within First Amendment law and 21st century America is sorely needed. In this book, Wat Hopkins tackles the challenge with intellect and passion, offering compelling arguments and conclusions that significantly contribute to the debate on this vitality important issue. --Joseph Russomanno, Walter Cronkrite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University Grounding his timely work in judicial opinions, academic scholarship and free-speech theory, Hopkins makes an engaging, well-researched and compelling argument why First Amendment protection for hate speech is wrongheaded. As he crisply encapsulates it, such destructive expression 'is harmful, without value, and does not constitute ideas for First Amendment purposes.' --Clay Calvert, nonresident senior fellow, American Enterprise Institute Hate Speech is Not Free Speech contributes mightily to the nation's ongoing conversation about the boundaries of freedom of expression.Wat Hopkins draws from his extensive experience in First Amendment scholarship to provide a historically grounded and thoughtful argument for why we should rethink First Amendment safeguards for hate speech. --Jared Schroeder, associate professor of media law, University of Missouri and author of The Structure of Ideas: Mapping a New Theory of Free Expression in the AI Era What a lucid and compelling clarion call to the US Supreme Court: Unprotect hate speech. Hopkins' book couldn't be more timely and relevant in the Internet 21st century. It cogently clarifies why and how hate speech has no place in First Amendment law. Hopkins' incisive analysis of key caselaw and free speech theories is a scholarly tour de force. --Kyu Ho Youm, Jonathan Marshall First Amendment Chair, University of Oregon

An in-depth critique of hate speech and its proper place within First Amendment law and 21st century America is sorely needed. In this book, Wat Hopkins tackles the challenge with intellect and passion, offering compelling arguments and conclusions that significantly contribute to the debate on this vitality important issue. --Joseph Russomanno, Walter Cronkrite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University Grounding his timely work in judicial opinions, academic scholarship and free-speech theory, Hopkins makes an engaging, well-researched and compelling argument why First Amendment protection for hate speech is wrongheaded. As he crisply encapsulates it, such destructive expression 'is harmful, without value, and does not constitute ideas for First Amendment purposes.' --Clay Calvert, nonresident senior fellow, American Enterprise Institute Hate Speech is Not Free Speech contributes mightily to the nation's ongoing conversation about the boundaries of freedom of expression.Wat Hopkins draws from his extensive experience in First Amendment scholarship to provide a historically grounded and thoughtful argument for why we should rethink First Amendment safeguards for hate speech. --Jared Schroeder, associate professor of media law, University of Missouri and author of The Structure of Ideas: Mapping a New Theory of Free Expression in the AI Era What a lucid and compelling clarion call to the US Supreme Court: Unprotect hate speech. Hopkins' book couldn't be more timely and relevant in the Internet 20th century. It cogently clarifies why and how hate speech has no place in First Amendment law. Hopkins' incisive analysis of key caselaw and free speech theories is a scholarly tour de force. --Kyu Ho Youm, Jonathan Marshall First Amendment Chair, University of Oregon

What a lucid and compelling clarion call to the US Supreme Court: Unprotect hate speech. Hopkins' book couldn't be more timely and relevant in the Internet 20th century. It cogently clarifies why and how hate speech has no place in First Amendment law. Hopkins' incisive analysis of key caselaw and free speech theories is a scholarly tour de force. --Kyu Ho Youm, Jonathan Marshall First Amendment Chair, University of Oregon An in-depth critique of hate speech and its proper place within First Amendment law and 21st century America is sorely needed. In this book, Wat Hopkins tackles the challenge with intellect and passion, offering compelling arguments and conclusions that significantly contribute to the debate on this vitality important issue. --Joseph Russomanno, Walter Cronkrite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University Grounding his timely work in judicial opinions, academic scholarship and free-speech theory, Hopkins makes an engaging, well-researched and compelling argument why First Amendment protection for hate speech is wrongheaded. As he crisply encapsulates it, such destructive expression 'is harmful, without value, and does not constitute ideas for First Amendment purposes.' --Clay Calvert, nonresident senior fellow, American Enterprise Institute Hate Speech is Not Free Speech contributes mightily to the nation's ongoing conversation about the boundaries of freedom of expression.Wat Hopkins draws from his extensive experience in First Amendment scholarship to provide a historically grounded and thoughtful argument for why we should rethink First Amendment safeguards for hate speech. --Jared Schroeder, associate professor of media law, University of Missouri and author of The Structure of Ideas: Mapping a New Theory of Free Expression in the AI Era

An in-depth critique of hate speech and its proper place within First Amendment law and 21st century America is sorely needed. In this book, Wat Hopkins tackles the challenge with intellect and passion, offering compelling arguments and conclusions that significantly contribute to the debate on this vitality important issue. --Joseph Russomanno, Walter Cronkrite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University Grounding his timely work in judicial opinions, academic scholarship and free-speech theory, Hopkins makes an engaging, well-researched and compelling argument why First Amendment protection for hate speech is wrongheaded. As he crisply encapsulates it, such destructive expression 'is harmful, without value, and does not constitute ideas for First Amendment purposes.' --Clay Calvert, nonresident senior fellow, American Enterprise Institute Hate Speech is Not Free Speech contributes mightily to the nation's ongoing conversation about the boundaries of freedom of expression.Wat Hopkins draws from his extensive experience in First Amendment scholarship to provide a historically grounded and thoughtful argument for why we should rethink First Amendment safeguards for hate speech. --Jared Schroeder, associate professor of media law, University of Missouri and author of The Structure of Ideas: Mapping a New Theory of Free Expression in the AI Era What a lucid and compelling clarion call to the US Supreme Court: Unprotect hate speech. Hopkins' book couldn't be more timely and relevant in the Internet 20th century. It cogently clarifies why and how hate speech has no place in First Amendment law. Hopkins' incisive analysis of key caselaw and free speech theories is a scholarly tour de force. --Kyo Ho Youm, University of Oregon

Author Information

Wat Hopkins is an emeritus professor of communication at Virginia Tech where he taught communication law and cyberspace law. He has written widely on issues related to freedom of expression and is former editor of the journal Communication Law and Policy. He has received the Distinguished Service Award from the Law and Policy Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication and the AEJMC Dorothy Bowles Award for Public Service.

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