LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY CAMPUS
Comment on Letter to the Editor by Michael Meyers, October 28, 2019
In contrast to Michael Meyer’s excellent viewpoint that hate speech is protected by principles of “Free speech in America,” there is another international human rights point of view. Article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Article 4 of the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) forbid hate speech. Both treaties were ratified by the United States. The Committee on ICERD observed that, “the prohibition of the dissemination of all ideas based upon racial superiority or hatred is compatible with the right to freedom of opinion and expression.”
John C. Brittain, Professor Emeritus, UConn Law School (1977-1999) and
Professor at University of the District of Columbia Law School
Washington, DC