Elizabeth Nolan Brown on Steven Salaita and the Tyranny of ‘Hate Speech’

In the United States, hate
speech is only considered beyond the bounds of protected expression
when it’s intended to incite imminent violence. But lately we’ve
been witnessing a lot of “hate speech” mission creep, writes
Elizabeth Nolan Brown. It seems hate speech allegations are now
routinely leveled—and sticking—against anyone expressing a
controversial viewpoint.  

The most recent example to make headlines involves professor
Steven Salaita, whose job offer with the University of Illinois was
rescinded in response to his tweets about Israel and Gaza. Brown
looks at Salaita’s situation and how it fits into a larger loss of
respect for academic freedom and free speech on American college
campuses. 

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