Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Reason
Reason
Politics
Eugene Volokh

Arab "Hate Speech"

From the sign code in Arab, Alabama, which regulates privately owned signs on private property:

While trying to maintain content-neutrality, signs that contain vulgar, threatening, hate speech, lewd or indecent content are not permitted.

I believe that should read "while not actually trying to maintain content-neutrality." Indeed, a prohibition on "vulgar" signs is unconstitutionally content-based and vague; a prohibition on "lewd or indecent content" is unconstitutionally content-based and probably vague; a prohibition on "hate speech" is unconstitutionally viewpoint-based (and content-based) and vague. The prohibition on threatening speech, if it's limited to speech that constitutes a "true threat" of illegal conduct, is also content-based but constitutionally permissible (since true threats are excluded from First Amendment protection).

The name of the city is pronounced "AY-rab," if I'm hearing the recording at Arab City Hall correctly.

The post Arab "Hate Speech" appeared first on Reason.com.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.