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Are Racist Emails a Crime or Protected Free Speech?
Yahoo News ^ | Mon, August 21, 2023 | Angela Dennis

Posted on 08/22/2023 1:56:22 PM PDT by nickcarraway

When a racist and threatening email prompted the abrupt resignation of former Knoxville police Deputy Chief Brooklyn Belk, the question remained whether the message fit the criteria for a crime.

Belk, and many other recipients of messages that are threatening but don't lay out a specific act against a specific individual, contend they're clearly meant to intimidate and cause fear. The Knoxville Police Department, the FBI and many legal scholars say clearing the bar of a crime requires more than what was in the email Belk received June 11 in her workplace inbox.

Legal experts weigh in

Legal experts told Knox News there’s a thin line between what constitutes a crime when it comes to racist emails and what is considered free speech under the U.S. Constitution. Striking a balance between protecting individual liberties and combating hate speech requires thoughtful consideration of legal frameworks, societal attitudes and cultural contexts. The delicate balance between protecting freedom of expression and addressing the harmful impact of hate speech continues to challenge society and is especially controversial depending on who is on the receiving end of it. Black Americans, especially, point out the long history of intimidation campaigns in this country that culminated in violence against their targets.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: race; speech
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1 posted on 08/22/2023 1:56:22 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Have you a picture of Brooklyn Belk?


2 posted on 08/22/2023 2:01:01 PM PDT by JonPreston ( ✌ ☮️ )
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If you don’t like someone, keep race out of it.

If they have done something against you, address that.

If you can’t come to an agreement, cut off contact and try
to avoid the situation.

Sending folks an eMail containing racial comments is wrong.

It diminishes you more than them.


3 posted on 08/22/2023 2:01:05 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (I pledge allegiance to the flag of the USofA & to the Constitutional REPUBLIC for which it stands.)
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To: nickcarraway

“Black Americans, especially, point out the long history of intimidation campaigns in this country that culminated in violence against their targets.”

Well theyve turned the tables on us havent they?


4 posted on 08/22/2023 2:01:37 PM PDT by MrRelevant
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To: nickcarraway

“Are Racist Emails a Crime or Protected Free Speech?”

Facebook would have to fire AT LEAST half of their people if they chose to address Racist emails. Of course the victims are White/Asians people and the perps are minorities, along with Whites/Asians.

So, no, racist emails are JUST FINE, as long as the targets are Whites and/or Asians.


5 posted on 08/22/2023 2:02:38 PM PDT by BobL (Trump has all the right Enemies; DeSantis has all the wrong Friends)
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To: nickcarraway

Speaking truth is considered racist. See crime statistics.


6 posted on 08/22/2023 2:03:22 PM PDT by dynachrome (War does not determine who is right, but who is left.)
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To: DoughtyOne

That is one opinion which doesn’t address the dichotomous posit.

I know that almost all choices are shades of grey.

I say free speech.


7 posted on 08/22/2023 2:03:41 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: nickcarraway

Certainly not a federal crime as the Constitution gives the feds no authority to interfere with “discrimination” or “racism”.


8 posted on 08/22/2023 2:03:51 PM PDT by Jim W N (MAGA by restoring the Gospel of the Grace of Christ (Jude 3) and our Free Constitutional Republic!)
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To: dynachrome

Guassian distribution of IQ…


9 posted on 08/22/2023 2:04:54 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: MrRelevant
“Black Americans, especially, point out the long history of intimidation campaigns in this country that culminated in violence against their targets.”

It's in the past. The Dims are trying to claim righteousness today by trying to "win" against their own past sins of slavery and segregation that the Republicans already outlawed long ago.

10 posted on 08/22/2023 2:05:38 PM PDT by Tell It Right (1st Thessalonians 5:21 -- Put everything to the test, hold fast to that which is true.)
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To: MrRelevant

Does that make it right if the tables have been turned??? If racism is bad, which it is, then why practice something that’s wrong?


11 posted on 08/22/2023 2:08:28 PM PDT by Son-Joshua ( )
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To: nickcarraway

The courts really should have settled this Free Speech stuff to “Fire!” in a crowded theater, or direct threats of bodily harm. Those are bad.

“Hate speech”? The “n-word”? If the listener has a problem and goes berserk, then charge the listener. The speech is protected.


12 posted on 08/22/2023 2:10:11 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy (They say "Our Democracy" but they mean Cosa Nostra.)
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To: DoughtyOne

Is it racist to say that you don’t want BLM to burn your house down and kill your family?


13 posted on 08/22/2023 2:10:20 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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To: nickcarraway

The crime is how one sided this racism excrement is.


14 posted on 08/22/2023 2:12:42 PM PDT by JZelle
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To: DoughtyOne
Sending folks an eMail containing racial comments is wrong.

May be. But is it a crime? Free speech isn't to protect just speech you want to hear and you agree with.

15 posted on 08/22/2023 2:15:48 PM PDT by MileHi ((Liberalism is an ideology of parasites, hypocrites, grievance mongers, victims, and control freaks.)
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To: nickcarraway

You know regime is both illegitimate and in trouble when they have to resort to censorship and thought crimes to keep control.


16 posted on 08/22/2023 2:18:30 PM PDT by wildcard_redneck (The Forever War is a crime against humanity)
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To: JonPreston
Good looking but a fragile drama queen


17 posted on 08/22/2023 2:22:13 PM PDT by wildcard_redneck (The Forever War is a crime against humanity)
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To: nickcarraway

They’ve purposely bastardized the language to a point where everything you say can be defined as racist.


18 posted on 08/22/2023 2:30:14 PM PDT by lewislynn ( Trump accomplished more for America in one 4yr term than any President in your lifetime)
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To: nickcarraway

Hate crimes are thought crimes. That is to say they are protected speech.


19 posted on 08/22/2023 2:43:31 PM PDT by jimfree (My 20 y/o granddaughter continues to have more quality exec experience than Joe Biden.)
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To: lewislynn

That’s not an accident.


20 posted on 08/22/2023 2:46:33 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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