In response to an outburst (two, that I’m aware of) hanging nooses in front of the houses of blacks, the NY State Senate has jumped into action and passed one of the most outrageous pieces of legislation imaginable. One can only hope that by the time the State Committee gets to it, the incidents will have been forgotten, and the bill can be quietly put to death. Unfortunately, highly doubt that’s going to happen anytime soon. The Senate is actually Republican controlled in NY and the Committee is Democratic, thanks to Gerrymandering. If Republicans passed the bill, I’m sure the D’s are going to as well.
What this wonderful piece of fodder for the Supreme Court (one can only hope) does is make it illegal for a noose, burning cross, or Swastika to be displayed on public or PRIVATE property in an offensive manner, whatever that means. So, ignoring the actual racist displays for the moment, essentially what this means is that if someone happens to be offended by your completely innocent (although perhaps unfortunate) decorations of YOUR own property, legal action of some sort can be taken against you. Even for the displays actually intended to be racist, this is an insane violation of the Constitution. I can understand making it illegal on public property, but on your own property. If some neo-Nazi ass wants to ostracize the neighbors by putting up a giant Swastika on his lawn, well, it is his constitutional right to do so, whatever people think about it.
I understand why people would be offended by displays of these hateful icons. I can agree with the limitations put on the displays of these icons on public property. However, just causing offense to someone, regardless of how justified that offense is, does not mean that one’s first amendment rights should be taken away.
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