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Crosses the free speech line?

Did chanting for police "wanting dead cops now" cross free speech line?

  • Total voters
    23
joko104 said:
There are videos of protestors marching chanting over and over and over:

"What do we want? Dead cops.
When do we want them? Now!"

Two police officers shot. The message 3 hours before this by the murderer?

“They Take 1 Of Ours . . . Let’s Take 2 of Theirs,” the post continued, ending with, “This May Be My Final Post.”

Clearly links it to the protest issue.

Does that chant cross the allowed free speech? What about A group marching chatting they want dead black people? Dead gays? Dead Muslims?

I think it does. It is clearly attempting to incite violence. I would argue it is a terroristic threat. That they "want" it shows intent. That they "want" it "now," means its tangible and imminent.

If people can chant they want cops killed now, any group or anyone can want anyone individually or by category killed.

You're thoughts?
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While utterly repugnant, even more so than yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater, I do not equate this as yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater.

The theater scenario causes panic and the very real threat of injury/death due to stampede because people don't have time to assess the situation. They simply react and run.

In the protest scenario you present, it is true that people may be incited to violence, and there is something to be said for "mob mentality", but it's not a fear of life or death right now causing panic. People still have the luxury of time to consider their options, hence each individual is still responsible for their own actions.
 
AJiveMan said:
I sounded like she wanted revenge to me. But, that was protected by free speech.

Also, let's go to Nevada for a minute, freedom of speech, freedom to assemble, and freedom to carry weapons, just in case government agents got out of control, a man saying he's put his child and wife in the line of fire if it came to that.

How far do we want to take these freedoms? To death?
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"Give me liberty, or give me death." -Patrick Henry
 
DA60 said:
Outside of direct threads (that are illegal), there is no such thing in my mind as crossing the free speech line.

Outside of threatening violence, people should be able to say anything they want to anyone they want.

No one is going to kill a cop strictly because they saw someone say they want to see a cop dead unless they are nuts.
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There are a few hundred more examples that need to be on the list. An exception need be made with regard to racist statements, it should be illegal to negatively incite an identifiable group. You should not be allowed to bear false witness, spread a rumor or tell an untruth about anyone.

You should not be allowed to yell "fire" in a crowded theater, incite people to violence, bear false witness, lie under oath, or insult the integrity of the courts.

Exemptions to free speech need to be made in regard include depictions as in video or photographs. Unauthorized publications of child porn, exploitation of children or others and unauthorized sexual content of any kind needs exemption, along with certain privacy matters, like health records etc.
 
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