Racist or not, we either have free speech or we don't. If the left-wingers have the "free speech" to engage in overtly treasonous behavior, then this kid should have the free speech right to express his own beliefs, however odious.
"Racist or not, we either have free speech or we don't. "
Oh, we have free speech. This kid exercised it. Free speech has only to do with the government restricting your speech.
Seems to me like the kid expressed himself. So, apparently, did the kid who punched him. You've heard of "fighting words?" This is an example of that.
Consider how you might react if some kid had a t-shirt with a picture of your daughter on one side and the words, "Nice Piece" on the back. Just think about it, and then think about a cartoon showing two black people being dragged behind a car in nooses.
The kid's lucky he is still around.
Lesson: Keep your radical ideas to yourself, dumbass.
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Fighting words concept. You might not have felt compelled to hit but the law recognizes that your freedom of expression is not armor against those whom you have obviously chosen to offend. I hope he knocked him out.
Well, he does. He also bears the responsibility of any hostility his "speech" may have incited.
With rights come responsibility. It's a miracle that idiot hasn't lost both.
Actions have consequences. You may think all speech is free but that is incorrect. The First Amendment protects your speech from GOVERNMENT interference. Your neighbor may still legally bash your nose if you speak "fighting words".
I think the courts have ruled that certain types of speech can be restricted in schools if that form of speech is an impediment to the learning procees for other students. Sory of a modified you can't yell fire in the movie house sort of thing. I think this would certainly apply here.
The boy's shirt called for the murder of blacks.
"Racist or not, we either have free speech or we don't. If the left-wingers have the "free speech" to engage in overtly treasonous behavior, then this kid should have the free speech right to express his own beliefs, however odious"
Defending the racist here because of some misused rights is like the ACLU defending pedophiles who "only publish literature" (ie., how to seduce a kid). Yes, the racist has a right to be a jerk, and not get hit because of it - I say, So what?
Unrelated to my take on your take:
If I saw someone burning an American Flag, and nobody was looking - and I could take him - I'd have to beat his ass. Then I'd spend the next week looking over my shoulder in fear that somehow I'd get caught for it, but that's another story.
Incitement to riot trumps free speech.
We have the right to free speech. We don't have the right to consequence free speech. I'd say that shirt got the reaction it sought (and deserved).
IMO, you are right on this as anybody will be on anything on this forum today. Free speech is either free or it ain't (and now, this is NOT equivalent to yelling Fire! in a crowded theater...in that case, people at least have a reason to start acting apeshit).
Freedom of speech, within educational institutions, does not include the right to wear clothing with disruptive or offensive images or messages on them.
"Fighting words" are not protected.
This wasn't just racist...this was advocating killing people.