Free Republic

Some notes on the passing scene: ~Yesterday was another dark day for the west's fast-fading freedom of speech. Scotland's new "Hate Crime" law came into effect, formalising (among other things) my perennial gag that in the UK (or at least this miserable corner of it) everything is policed except crime: The wanker coppers will now be spending ever more of their worthless days sitting around monitoring your Twitter account. Oh, don't worry, Scotland's "First Minister" and the plods themselves have been at pains to assure you that they're going to keep a sense of proportion about their new thought-crime powers....

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee has introduced a House Bill to criminalize “conspiracy to commit white supremacy,” which includes any criticism of non-white people that influences (such as something published or said online) someone who commits a hate crime. https://congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/61/text/ih?overview=closed&format=xml

More than half a century since they were modernized, hate crime laws in the U.S. are inconsistent and provide incomplete methods for addressing bias-motivated violence, according to a new report by advocates for better protections. The report, first shared with The Associated Press ahead of its Wednesday release, is a comprehensive national review of hate crime laws that shows gaps and variances in the laws. Due to the complexity of hate violence, certain statutes meant to protect racial minorities and marginalized groups are less effective, as a consequence of bias in the criminal justice system, the report says. The existing...

An Iowa man was sentenced to 16 years in prison for setting an LGBTQ flag on fire. Adolfo Martinez, 30, stole a rainbow-colored pride banner that was hanging from the side of a church and lit it on fire in June of this year. The County Attorney said “hate crimes” were added to the charges because Martinez is suspected of criminal mischief against someone’s property because of “what it represents as far as sexual orientation.” This is outrageous! Murderers and rapists serve less time! The Des Moines Register reported: An Ames man was sentenced Wednesday to about 16 years in...

HOUSTON (AP) — A white Houston-area man was sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for committing a hate crime when he surprise punched an elderly black man. In federal court in Houston on Friday, Conrad Alvin Barrett was sentenced to prison followed by three years of probation. Barrett admitted in court to racial motivation in the Nov. 24, 2013, attack on his 81-year-old victim. Evidence showed Barrett filmed the attack on his cellphone. The 29-year-old Katy, Texas, man punched an 81-year-old man with such force that he fell to the ground. Barrett then laughed and said, “Knockout!” as...

Even as same-sex marriage edges closer to becoming legal nationwide, gay rights advocates face other challenges in 2015 that may not bring quick victories. In Congress, for example, liberal Democrats plan to introduce civil rights bills in the House and Senate that would outlaw a broad range of discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people. However, Republicans will control both chambers in the new Congress, and there is no sign that GOP leaders will help the bills advance. Absent such a federal law, activists will seek to pass more nondiscrimination laws at the state and local levels, but some...

Federal authorities said Thursday they have arrested and charged a Texas man in connection with the “knockout game,” accusing him of a hate crime for targeting a black man for a vicious street attack. Most knockout victims that have appeared in news reports have been white, but the Justice Department said in this instance the victim was a 79-year-old black man, and stepped in with federal charges.

Police investigators in Lincoln, Neb., have not ruled out the possibility that a 33-year-old lesbian allegedly attacked last weekend because of her sexual orientation might have staged the hate crime. But they’re also not ready to call her story, which has ignited interest across the country, a complete fabrication. Chief Jim Peschong told the Lincoln Journal Star that investigators, aided by the FBI, continue to search for suspects in the case but remain uncertain whether the attack even took place. The woman, whom Nebraska gay advocates have dubbed “Rainbow Jane,” told police that three men wearing masks stormed into her...

IFI Media Watch Perhaps you missed it, after all, there was that story about Tiger being in the proverbial woods regarding a late night Thanksgiving crash. The story about this world famous golfer and his possible extramarital affairs have filled the airwaves to the point of absurdity. And then, of course, there were the reality show wannabes who participated in a crash of their own, except their incident didn't involve a car. The couple sashayed in to a state dinner at the White House without an invitation. This story has also received a ridiculous amount of coverage by the mainstream...

All Wrought From White Liberal Pride - Not Guilt According to our Akron Beacon Journal, "Dozens of black youths" shouted, "This is a black world," and, "This is our world," as they beat up a white construction worker, his family and friends as they were viewing a June 27 fireworks display. Police officials are, " not ready to call it a hate crime," and "is not classifying it as a racial hate crime." Fortunately, the family and friends are OK and are considering acquiring personal defense weapons to protect themselves in this once beautiful area in Akron, Ohio, named after...

Note: The following text is a quote: THE BRIEFING ROOM THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ___________________________________________________________ For Immediate Release June 1, 2009 LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009 - - - - - - - BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION Forty years ago, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn in New York City resisted police harassment that had become all too common for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Out of this resistance, the LGBT rights movement in America was born. During LGBT Pride...

The 'how-to' plan to criminalize Christianity 'Homosexuals know they must silence the church and that's what's behind this' A growing movement that experts believe could end up in the criminalization of Christianity in the United States is being exposed in a new documentary being prepared for airing on October 26, officials at Coral Ridge Ministries have announced. "Hate Crime Laws" is a half-hour exposé that shows how Christians in America, Canada, Australia, and Sweden have been arrested and prosecuted for expressing opinions that are rooted in the Bible regarding homosexual conduct, Islam or other topics about which Scriptures express clear...

A suspected bias attack on four Jewish subway riders in New York City has resulted in a friendship between the Jewish victims and the Muslim college student who came to their aid. Walter Adler is calling Hassan Askari a hero for intervening when Adler and three friends were assaulted on a subway train in lower Manhattan on Friday night.

After facing intense opposition against a proposed ordinance that would have outlawed the use of the "n-word" in his town, Brazoria Mayor Ken Corley announced Thursday he would drop the proposal altogether. Corley's decision brought applause from most of the 200 people who gathered in the middle of Main Street to discuss the issue. The meeting was held outside Thursday because the town's council chamber is too small. Though almost all speakers said they condemned the use of racial epithets, most said the Brazoria County town of 2,800 has few racial problems, and the proposed ordinance would cause more problems...

Mayor wants Brazoria to outlaw the 'n-word' He says small town should fine 'offensive' uses of the racial slur A public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at 201 S. Main St., the town's city hall. Brazoria Mayor Ken Corley wants offensive use of the "n-word" to be punishable by a fine of up to $500 in his town. "It's not a particular problem in Brazoria," Corley said, "but it's a national problem." Corley said he got the idea while watching two black ministers talking on television about how offensive that word is. "I just think it would be...

<p>BRIDGETON -- Hate crime prosecution is being considered as an option to help overcome the problem of Mexican victimization in violent crimes here, according to the county prosecutor.</p> <p>"It is something that I'll tell you our office has been thinking about here, where Hispanics -- in Bridgeton, specifically Mexicans -- have been the targets of criminal activities," Prosecutor Ron Casella said Friday.</p>

"Falwell's statement constitutes hate-speech against an identifiable religious minority group," responded CIC legal counsel, Faisal Joseph. "It is both slanderous and provocative and totally irresponsible for any religious leader, specially at this sensitive time. We are therefore filing a formal complaint with the CRTC against all Canadian TV channels who broadcast this interview, and are considering further legal action under Canada's hate crime laws."

DID YOU KNOW that the state of Idaho can send you to prison for saying the "n-word?" Just ask Lonny Rae. He used the "n-word" against a black man who was manhandling his wife. Lonny now faces jail time. The black man who attacked his wife does not. The "n-word" has been getting lots of press lately, thanks to a New York Times bestseller by African-American Harvard law professor Randall Kennedy, entitled, "N----r: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word." Unlike me, Kennedy dares to spell out the entire word "n----r." I have to be more careful. If I spelled...