Hate speech and the First Amendment

This five-part series on race and democracy includes compelling conversations and speeches that explore where issues of race and democracy collide. The series looks at how racism and racial realities pose a challenge to our democracy. Hate-related violence topics include the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma, the assassination of Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, and the torching of a store in New York, which have all been traced to inflammatory speech. Citizens are asking if heated political rhetoric, including vile hate speech, leads to violence, the endangerment of the citizenry, and therefore, should be limited legally.<br>This program poses difficult questions as to whether the First Amendment should be re-interpreted. The guests include Anthony Griffin, African American Texas NAACP counsel and Loretta Ross, former national program director for the Center for Democratic Renewal.