We are extremely honored to host Nadine Strossen at our upcoming Bridge to Justice Breakfast fundraiser. Strossen is a professor at New York Law School, is the immediate past President of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and is a leading expert on constitutional law and civil liberties.
The annual Bridge to Justice Breakfast increases awareness and raises critical funds for the Legal Aid Programs in Broward. The morning program will spotlight the vital work of these organizations to assist vulnerable and underserved populations in Broward.
Nadine Strossen was the youngest and first female president of the ACLU, serving on the frontlines to defend American ideals of equality and freedom for nearly two decades. Strossen continues to confront challenges to these ideals through ongoing leadership positions in the ACLU and other human rights organizations. Twice named one of “The 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America” by The National Law Journal, Nadine has a knack for making complex issues like censorship seem stimulating and accessible.
FREE SPEECH AND CENSORSHIP
Strossen delves into free speech and censorship topics in her acclaimed 2018 book HATE: Why We Should Resist It with Free Speech, Not Censorship. She discusses the importance of continuing to protect the subcategory of “hate speech” and illustrates how censorship laws restricting such speech do not effectively reduce the feared harms of “hate speech.” Furthermore, Strossen proposes that the best way to resist hate and promote equality is not censorship, but rather, vigorous “counterspeech.” Above all, she offers useful strategies to promote our national aspiration of “liberty and justice for all.”
Please join us on Friday, June 7, 2019 to hear Nadine expound on the dangers of certain efforts to serve justice by limiting civil and constitutional rights.
BRIDGE TO JUSTICE BREAKFAST DETAILS
The 9th Annual Bridge to Justice Breakfast will be held at the Renaissance Hotel, 1617 SE 17th Street in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, June 7, 2019. Guests will enjoy networking over coffee and a plated breakfast to benefit the more than 20,000 children, seniors, veterans, homeless persons, victims of domestic violence and other crimes, unaccompanied immigrant minors, and persons living with HIV/AIDS served by Legal Aid Service of Broward County and Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida each year. The event begins at 7:15am with coffee and networking, followed by breakfast served at 8:00 am. The event concludes promptly at 9:15 am.
Tickets are $75 and can be purchased by clicking here.
ABOUT THE BOOK HATE: Why We Should Resist It with Free Speech, Not Censorship
HATE dispels misunderstandings plaguing our perennial debates about "hate speech vs. free speech," showing that the First Amendment approach promotes free speech and democracy, equality, and societal harmony. We hear too many incorrect assertions that "hate speech" -- which has no generally accepted definition -- is either absolutely unprotected or absolutely protected from censorship. Rather, U.S. law allows government to punish hateful or discriminatory speech in specific contexts when it directly causes imminent serious harm. Yet, government may not punish such speech solely because its message is disfavored, disturbing, or vaguely feared to possibly contribute to some future harm. When U.S. officials formerly wielded such broad censorship power, they suppressed dissident speech, including equal rights advocacy. Likewise, current politicians have attacked Black Lives Matter protests as "hate speech."
HATE: Why We Should Resist It with Free Speech, Not Censorship
"Hate speech" censorship proponents stress the potential harms such speech might further: discrimination, violence, and psychic injuries. However, there has been little analysis of whether censorship effectively counters the feared injuries. Citing evidence from many countries, this book shows that "hate speech" laws are at best ineffective and at worst counterproductive. Their inevitably vague terms invest enforcing officials with broad discretion, and predictably, regular targets are minority views and speakers. Therefore, prominent social justice advocates in the U.S. and beyond maintain that the best way to resist hate and promote equality is not censorship, but rather, vigorous "counterspeech" and activism.
“HATE: Why We Should Resist It with Free Speech, Not Censorship”
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