Hate crimes statute used to arrest anti-Muslim protester
We have been hearing calls for examples of how hate crimes statutes are being used to regulate speech. Today we go to the Associated Press for an example from New York. Check out the article here.
I certainly don't want to defend someone flushing copies of the Quran down the tiolet. But this story is a good example of what Christians have to fear from new hate crimes laws- particularly ones that include homosexuality.
NEW YORK - A 23-year-old man was arrested Friday on hate-crime charges after he threw a Quran in a toilet at Pace University on two separate occasions, police said.
Stanislav Shmulevich of Brooklyn was arrested on charges of criminal mischief and aggravated harassment, both hate crimes, police said. It was unclear if he was a student at the school. A message left at the Shmulevich home was not immediately returned.
Now, the left has been arguing for years that "speech" includes the right to burn the American flag, but now flushing the Quran gets you arrested. It's exactly what we feared- special rights for minorities due to hate crimes legislation. Where are we headed with this flawed logic?
This is scary. Arrested for damaging the Quran? What is happening to this country that the Quran is valued and protected more than the American flag and The Holy Bible?
Posted by: | July 31, 2007 at 10:17 AM
Another anti-Muslim protestor burned a $60,000 Koran, but faces no charges of hate crimes. Turns out the free-speecher is a homosexual who views the Muslim Holy Book as homophobic. He claims to be an artist and, apparently, the Koran burning was artistic expression.
http://marketwatch.nytimes.com/custom/nyt-com/html-story.asp?guid={697921EB-1663-4041-8BD8-78B534F14A7C}&symb=&sid=&siteid=NYT&dist=NYT&osymb
Posted by: Kenn Gividen | July 31, 2007 at 08:59 PM
More bogus "hate crimes"
http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID={848A2969-E6B2-4BB0-AEC6-E15FC7047A0A}
Posted by: Kenn Gividen | August 01, 2007 at 05:29 AM
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-1592
This link tracks HR 1592
If passed, this leglislation will make free speech a hate crime if it causes homosexuals emotional discomfort.
Posted by: Kenn Gividen | August 01, 2007 at 05:47 AM
This is a great example of just how far this type of thinking can take us.
Posted by: Stacey | August 01, 2007 at 11:33 PM
Are you arguing that the federal hate crimes bill, passed in 2002 providing protections based on RELIGION, RACE, NATIONAL ORIGIN among other categories, should be repealed? Or you just don't like the idea of including gays and lesbians and their families?
Posted by: Critic has a point | August 02, 2007 at 03:03 PM
Oh, by the way, when did emotional discomfort become a crime for anyone? Hate crimes laws punish violence against an individual which was committed based on their perceived membership in a group.
Like burning a cross on a black family's yard to intimidate them and all blacks in the neighborhood.
Burning a rural church because you hate Christians and want to make them feel unsafe.
Or attacking patrons of a gay bar as they exit simply because they are perceived to be gay.
Posted by: Critic has a point | August 02, 2007 at 03:06 PM