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Leaked Internal Memo Reveals the ACLU Is Wavering on Free Speech
Reason ^ | 21 Jun, 2018 | Robby Soave

Posted on 06/21/2018 11:50:56 AM PDT by MtnClimber

The American Civil Liberties Union will weigh its interest in protecting the First Amendment against its other commitments to social justice, racial equality, and women's rights, given the possibility that offensive speech might undermine ACLU goals. "Our defense of speech may have a greater or lesser harmful impact on the equality and justice work to which we are also committed," wrote ACLU staffers in a confidential memo obtained by former board member Wendy Kaminer. It's hard to see this as anything other than a cowardly retreat from a full-throated defense of the First Amendment. Moving forward, when deciding whether to take a free speech case, the organization will consider "factors such as the (present and historical) context of the proposed speech; the potential effect on marginalized communities; the extent to which the speech may assist in advancing the goals of white supremacists or others whose views are contrary to our values; and the structural and power inequalities in the community in which the speech will occur."

The memo also makes clear that the ACLU has zero interest in defending First Amendment rights in conjunction with Second Amendment rights. If controversial speakers intend to carry weapons, the ACLU "will generally not represent them."

(Excerpt) Read more at reason.com ...


TOPICS: Society
KEYWORDS: sjw
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To: MtnClimber

supported only ‘free speech’ in the main when it assisted their leftist agenda ...


21 posted on 06/21/2018 2:07:21 PM PDT by elbook
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To: MtnClimber
So they are not about civil liberty at all.
22 posted on 06/21/2018 2:46:01 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: MtnClimber

The ACLU never believed in free speech.


23 posted on 06/21/2018 2:52:32 PM PDT by TBP (Progressives lack compassion and tolerance. Their self-aggrandizement is all that matters.)
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To: MtnClimber

Founded by communists.


24 posted on 06/21/2018 5:25:40 PM PDT by YogicCowboy ("I am not entirely on anyone's side, because no one is entirely on mine." - J. R. R. Tolkien)
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To: MtnClimber

These fakes have been going down the crapper for years. Transport the ACLU in a time machine to 1930s Germany, and they’d be lined up for Hitler and the Nazi party.


25 posted on 06/21/2018 6:33:39 PM PDT by sergeantdave (Teach a man to fish and he'll steal your gear and sell it)
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To: sergeantdave
These fakes have been going down the crapper for years. Transport the ACLU in a time machine to 1930s Germany, and they’d be lined up for Hitler and the Nazi party.

Well, yes. They are all the totalitarian political left just like the "progressive" left today.

26 posted on 06/21/2018 6:44:49 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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