The First Amendment prevents Congress from passing any laws that abridge the freedom of speech. But what does that actually mean? In this presentation, professor Meg Mott considers the history of speech laws in the United States, how states and municipalities have tried to curb offensive speech, and how the Supreme Court has ruled on those efforts. If the State cannot prohibit hateful speech against certain communities, how can we build a healthier polity?
All arguments are welcome as we make full use of our reasoning powers to bring the First Amendment to life!