Hate speech—the egalitarian/libertarian dilemma
Joseph J. Hemmer · Howard Journal of Communications · 1995
Incidents of hate speech have resulted in campus bans, court decisions, and a nationwide debate. This paper explicates and evaluates the arguments offered by both sides to the controversy—the egalitarians and libertarians. Egalitarians argue that hate speech is valueless, harmful, and discriminatory. Libertarians contend that restrictive codes are inherently unconstitutional, part of a slippery slope, and capable of chilling student thought. I propose a hate speech policy that attempts to balance divergent concerns.