There are some people who believe that hate speech and other things like it should not be protected by the First Amendment due to the emotional distress that it could cause the victim. However, hate speech is an opinion no matter how they might express it, everyone has a right to express their opinion in any form that they so choose to. In 1770 a Philosopher named Voltaire wrote in a letter, “I detest what you write, but I would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write.” in the Snyder v. Phelps case members of the Westboro Baptist Church protested at the funeral of Marine Lance Cpl. with derogatory signs against the troops. Snyder filed a lawsuit against the church on the grounds of defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress on the family, and invasion of privacy. U.S. District Judge Richard Benedict compensated the family with $5 million dollars for damages. However, the Supreme Court concluded that the Westboro Baptist Church was not guilty and that their
There are some people who believe that hate speech and other things like it should not be protected by the First Amendment due to the emotional distress that it could cause the victim. However, hate speech is an opinion no matter how they might express it, everyone has a right to express their opinion in any form that they so choose to. In 1770 a Philosopher named Voltaire wrote in a letter, “I detest what you write, but I would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write.” in the Snyder v. Phelps case members of the Westboro Baptist Church protested at the funeral of Marine Lance Cpl. with derogatory signs against the troops. Snyder filed a lawsuit against the church on the grounds of defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress on the family, and invasion of privacy. U.S. District Judge Richard Benedict compensated the family with $5 million dollars for damages. However, the Supreme Court concluded that the Westboro Baptist Church was not guilty and that their