hate van in hilo

[Anxious Messiah]

Freedom of speech doesn't free you from the its consequences.

_________________________________________
Don't speak unless you can improve on the silence.

[Midnight Rambler]

birchl, now you're making me wonder where you come from. Some of the things he's written or reposted on his FB could arguably be considered threatening or inciting violence, but I think even those are vague enough to stay under the line. I don't know what he's got on his truck right now since it changes often, but going over my pics of previous incarnations, none of them even come close. They are obviously extremely offensive and insulting, to almost everyone. But there's nothing illegal about that.

"Inciting hatred" is an extraordinarily broad concept that momst people in the US are justifiably wary of given how it's applied in other countries. A prominent atheist and skeptic from India has had to leave the country after being charged with "outraging religious feelings" - for debunking a supposedly miraculous Catholic statue.
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26815298

[TomK]

Rambler - I know birchl originally comes from the UK (as I do), but can't remember if it's been mentioned how long ago. The law in the UK was changed some years ago and has never been as geared towards free speech as the US. In the UK, those signs would clearly be illegal and a criminal offense, it might explain birchl's perspective although obviously I don't know for sure. Here, I *think* they are perfectly legal even if rather extreme and offensive.

[KeaauRich]

Brandenburg v. Ohio, 395 U.S. 444 (1969), was a landmark United States Supreme Court case based on the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Court held that government cannot punish inflammatory speech unless that speech is directed to inciting, and is likely to incite, imminent lawless action. (Thank you Wikipedia...)

Since no one seems to be taking this guy seriously, it's not likely that his hateful speech is likely to incite imminent lawless action.

[TomK]

He's been there for several years and no riots have broken out, so tend to agree, KeaauRich.

[BI-Curious]

"I think I might try the Islamic prayer at full blast from my parked car…".

LavaLava, PLEASE go for it!!! Such a funny clever idea!

Perhaps, when I get to move to the BI, I will start organizing Flying Spaghetti Monster church services on the sidewalk next to this guy. All Hail His Noodley Appendages!

On a more serious note, when I used the link to see the comments posted in the newspaper about this douchenozzle, someone very intelligently pointed out that (apparently) he attaches some of his signs to the park fencing, which seems to be less than legal.

[leilanidude]

He does change up the signs.
A couple weeks ago, most were about Islam - and one large sign said "Mohammed was a pedophile".

[2bad4u]

The I, me, my, attitude of intolerance I am reading out of some of you is not only discusting but equally inciiting as you feel this mans presents, posters and opinions are. Your lynch mob mentalitys are becoming infectious. There are more than one of you discussing one type of action or another against this person (joking or not).
Yet because you, you, you, find him so objectionable that you are just unable to look the other way, or drive another road, as a senceable person would do, possibly you need to start thinking about who it is here that is a bit deranged.

[jlgerk]

Legal or not is not my concern.
I diss like it as much as a No GMO Radical
I diss like it as much as a Pro GMO Radical
I diss like it as much as a No Drugs Radical
I diss like it as much as a Pro Drugs Radical
I diss like it as much as a No Gay Radical
I diss like it as much as a Pro Gay Radical
I diss like it as much as a No Abortion Radical
I diss like it as much as a Pro Abortion Radical
etc. etc. etc.

[2bad4u]

Unfortunately there is always " a lowest common denominator "