Tag Archive for "free speech"

Posts Tagged free speech

What Backlash Against “Political Correctness” is Really About

The last few weeks have seen Virginia racked by government scandals, including Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam and Attorney General Mark Herring’s histories with blackface, and allegations of sexual assault against Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax. Democratic Party leadership has since swiftly called for the resignations of Northam and Fairfax — demands that some on both sides of the aisle have ignorantly all but chalked up to excessive “political correctness.”

By Reina Gattuso • 7 years ago

Sex Workers Protest Shutdown of Backpage’s Adult Ads Section Following Gvt. Pressure

Rather than showing advertisements for escort services, online classifieds site Backpage‘s adult entertainment section now hosts pages and pages bearing the words “censored” in red letters.

By Meg Sri • 8 years ago

When Our (White) Feminist Heroes Fail Us: On “Notorious RBG” and Colin Kaepernick

Last week, a Supreme Court justice — one of the most prestigious and influential decision makers in the country — was asked to weigh in on a significant public protest against a spate of police brutality that specifically and severely affected the black community.

By Meg Sri • 8 years ago

Chelsea Manning: Thank You for Being a Really Rad Lady

Chelsea Manning has resurfaced into newsfeeds over the past month for upsetting reasons: on July 8th, Chelsea was confirmed to be hospitalized post a suicide attempt six years into a 35 year military prison sentence for releasing military and diplomatic documents to the public.

By Jacqui Germain • 8 years ago

The Antioch Review’s Transphobic Essay Isn’t About Free Speech

Last week, The Antioch Review, a notable journal in the literary community, published an essay by Daniel Harris titled, “The Sacred Androgen: The Transgender Debate.” The piece’s openly transphobic, antagonistic language was met with an online petition denouncing the essay for self-described members of the literary community to sign. The petition has since reached more than 4,000 signatures. Antioch College released a statement in response to the controversy, and in a move that’s as problematic as it was predictable, decided to use that good ol’ “free speech” argument as a justification for keeping the piece.

By Katherine Cross • 9 years ago

“I find this offensive”: How “offense” discourse traps us into inaction

No, you do not have a right to not be offended. Concomitantly, we need to stop using “offended” as a synonym for “structural harm” or “oppression” in everyday political discourse.

By Katherine Cross • 9 years ago

Je ne suis pas Charlie: On the Charlie Hebdo massacre and duelling extremisms

What happened to the staff of Charlie Hebdo yesterday sent a chill down my spine, as I imagine it must have to anyone who makes a living on the world’s opinion pages.

By Katherine Cross • 10 years ago

Empty Words: The Supreme Court’s unequal view of speech

#106909642 / gettyimages.com

Today, another Supreme Court ruling with far-reaching implications for the rights of women in this country in the much-touted Hobby Lobby case will be decided. Last week’s ruling in McCullen v. Coakley striking down the 35 foot buffer zones in front of Massachusetts abortion clinics on First Amendment grounds, however, should continue to trouble us all: it is, in many ways, the triumph of unequal speech in American public life, investing more power and protection in the already-privileged at the expense of those with weaker voices.

It’s the latest in a ...

#106909642 / gettyimages.com

Today, another Supreme Court ruling with far-reaching implications for ...