College Republican viewMany think of Nazism or white supremacy when hate speech comes into their minds. Barring hate speech from a freedom of expression resolution is ironic because freedom of expression has no exceptions. The First Amendment of the Bill of Rights states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech.” Many at Roger Williams University have suggested that hate speech does not fall under First Amendment protection and believe that it should be banned.Many believe in banning hate speech, stating it is not compatible with RWU’s messages of diversity and inclusion. The issue with this argument is that a stigma can be developed against ideologies and individuals that challenge these messages aside from Nazism and white supremacy. It is inevitable that students will question statements and policy from the RWU administration. Preventing criticism and questioning of statements and policies will make members of the student body become more bitter with the university system.While you can ban what others can publicly state, they will not change their minds and they cannot be barred from thinking such things. Banning ideologies that promote hate speech would martyrize them, when it would be better to debate and discuss these controversial ideas. Debating ideas will also better prepare the student body for after they graduate from RWU. One of the consequences of being in a free society includes expressing support for radical ideologies. Free speech is about defending the expression of views you do not agree with, even if they are unpopular, which is why hate speech should be protected in the upcoming freedom of expression resolution.
