The problem being that hate speech is very often a prelude to action.
Some years back, during MArdi Gas week, a group of Christian zealots were screaming at a Tarot reader thru bullhorns at close range. That, in itself, is something I would call assault. But then one of the Christains ran foward, and threw over the table of the reader, scattering cards all over the Square. The police refused to arrest the dude, saying that he "only bumped into the table accidentally." Lots more petty violence ensued since the cops were permitting it. The Christians only backed off when several of them got the crap beaten out of them by some gutterpunks. Someone also sprayed lighter fluid on the big banner which read "God hates Gays" then set it on fire.
Hate speech promotes violence, and violent reaction to violence. Where Christians outnumber the people they hate, they are more apt to win a violent confrontation.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2006-04-11 06:14 pm (UTC)Some years back, during MArdi Gas week, a group of Christian zealots were screaming at a Tarot reader thru bullhorns at close range. That, in itself, is something I would call assault. But then one of the Christains ran foward, and threw over the table of the reader, scattering cards all over the Square. The police refused to arrest the dude, saying that he "only bumped into the table accidentally." Lots more petty violence ensued since the cops were permitting it. The Christians only backed off when several of them got the crap beaten out of them by some gutterpunks. Someone also sprayed lighter fluid on the big banner which read "God hates Gays" then set it on fire.
Hate speech promotes violence, and violent reaction to violence. Where Christians outnumber the people they hate, they are more apt to win a violent confrontation.