By Sabrina Blum
On Tuesday, January 27, Steven Goldberg from the Holocaust and Human Rights Center spoke in the Media Center about hate speech and the importance of acknowledging it. The presentation addressed the definition of hate speech and the fine line between free speech and hate speech. For example, speaking out about policies supported by government officials online is considered free speech. However, insulting a government official because of the religion they practice or some other personal characteristics would be considered hate speech.
What’s covered by the first amendment can depend on the setting. For instance, if you were to have a parade permit, you would be able to display offensive symbols, words, or flags on the street, explained Goldberg. This would be considered free speech. However, in places such as schools and other private properties, you would not be able to have any flag or symbol that discriminates against anything or anyone.
In October, a swastika was found sketched into a table in one of the science lab classrooms in White Plains High School. This is a clear example of hate speech, and many students were upset by it.
One student, Zoelle Lee-Renert, said, “When I heard about [the swastika], I felt disgusted. But, unfortunately, I wasn’t surprised. There are a lot of kids who think doing that kind of stuff is funny or makes them ‘cool’. It’s still incredibly concerning how [students] take something so horrible and treat it as a joke. By doing this they continue to perpetuate hate and an unsafe environment.”
Zohar Rivel added, “As a Jew who has relatives who died in concentration camps, I feel targeted every time something like this happens, even though it wasn’t directed towards me specifically. Then again, I was not super surprised. Being hateful has unfortunately been normalized…”
Belle Cepler said, “That symbol means so much to so many people and it should be taken seriously.”
It’s upsetting to know that so many found the hate speech unsurprising. This should not be the norm.
After the presentation, Mr. Spiconardi asked his Global History honors class if any of us had ever experienced hate speech firsthand. Sadly, many members of our class reported that antisemitic, racist, and anti-immigrant comments had been directed at them.
Olivia Saja said, “About a year ago, this one guy targeted me for being Asian. He would do the eye thing, either squinting or using his finger to pull the corners of his eye, and would say ‘Ching Chong’ to me quite a few times. He wasn’t the first person to do this to me.”
“One time, in seventh grade, a kid came up to me and said, ‘Heil Hitler’ and did the Nazi salute, in the middle of the hallway, too, when I was just getting my backpack," Lee-Renert said.
This reporter has also experienced hate speech firsthand, when during an argument, a friend said, “Go to hell, Jew, you don’t believe in it anyway,” and exactly a year later said, “Back off, Jew!” during a game.
Hate speech divides our community and makes students feel uncomfortable and unsafe.
"I thought this year we were finally accepting and loving people different from us. It makes me fear how immature people can be. I hope these people realize how their words can affect others," Cepler said.
As Goldberg’s speech to students emphasized, we all need to take responsibility for stopping the spread of hate speech in our school, the community, and the world. We must think before we speak.
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