St. Louis CofCC Blog

Boston Globe via Tongue Tied Blog:

A Watertown man is criticizing the Town Council for adopting a program that seeks to curb hate crimes, saying he believes it violates his right to free speech.

Ralph Filicchia, 71, said he’s “not a hater” but believes the town’s participation in the Anti-Defamation League of New England’s No Place For Hate program infringes on his freedom to hold opinions that may go against the grain.

“People should be free to express things without being charged with hatemongering or hate speech,” said Filicchia, who is retired but does some freelance writing on political issues. “Isn’t the whole idea of free speech to protect offensive speech?”

Filicchia hung a Confederate flag outside his Bellevue Road home last week in protest, saying he would leave it up until a “No Place for Hate” sign in front of Town Hall is removed.

Council President Clyde L. Younger said in an interview he was surprised at Filicchia’s stance, since the No Place For Hate program is well-known and not about censoring speech, but fighting bigotry. The sign in front of Town Hall simply alerts the public that the town embraces diversity and that law enforcement will not turn a blind eye to hate crimes, he said.

This blog is representative of a local chapter of a national organization that has recently sued library districts for unconstitutional internet censorship. The ADL itself develops and provides web filter software for the purpose. In addition, ADL organizations in other majority white countries where “hate speech” laws and codes exist vigorously support their adoption, enforcement, and oppose their repeal.

Like superstar athlete that is in the process of negotiating a new contract, when he says it’s not about the money, it’s about the money.