Sheldon Richman on Opposing Bigotry Without Politicians

Should the government coercively sanction
business owners who, out of apparent religious conviction, refuse
to serve particular customers? While such behavior is repugnant,
the refusal to serve someone because of his or her race, ethnicity,
or sexual orientation is nevertheless an exercise of self-ownership
and freedom of nonassociation. It is both nonviolent and
nonviolative of other people’s rights. If we are truly to embrace
freedom of association, logically we must also embrace freedom of
nonassociation. The test of one’s commitment to freedom of
association, like freedom of speech, is whether one sticks by it
even when the content repulses. But does this mean that private
individuals may not peacefully sanction businesses that
invidiously discriminate against would-be customers? No, writes
Sheldon Richman. They may, and they should. Boycotts, publicity,
ostracism, and other noncoercive measures are also constituents of
freedom of association.

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