Political Memes

Bro never heard of the concept of Defensive Democracy

You must not be a minority or have much empathy if you don't understand how a mass demonstration of the klan could make people feel unsafe

The crimes committed in the name of its bigoted beliefs were despicable—hangings, floggings, mutilations, tarring and featherings, kidnappings, brandings by acid, along with a new intimidation tactic, cross-burnings. The Klan had become a clear threat to public safety and order.

An organized criminal syndicate “demonstrating” in Washington with impunity. Many members were police officers and government officials. I guess if you were white maybe you can afford this style of free speech. Today they’re embedded in ICE and kidnapping and disappearing people. People dying under mysterious circumstances in their custody. It’s good when they demonstrate unmasked so we know who they are. That’s the only benefit of this. Meanwhile people protesting genocide and protecting their neighbors are assaulted, jailed and drug through financial and professional ruin. But sure, it’s equal expression if you say so.

While you have a point about how the the 1st Amendment protects freedom of speech. And there are current day examples of the UK government deciding that people protesting against genocide are actually terrorists because of loose, arbitrary definitions. And further points could be made on how in an ideal world, the government should not be allowed to restrict speech.

There is also another point. This picture shows not simply a demonstration of free speech. It also shows a threat of violence and death at a time when this organization was very much involved in acts of violence and murder. Do we really think that the KKK should have the right to implicitly say that they will murder you? Or to have a show of force for how easy it would be for them to murder you?

Right now in the USA, you do not have the right to burn an Israeli flag. That is not considered free speech, it is considered hate speech. If protestors say genocide is bad, they can be arrested and maybe even charged with hate speech. But if the KKK were to march in DC again, there would be a police escort and reporters talking about the 1st Amendment.