ND Supreme Court says racial slur not free speech
Go Deeper.
Create an account or log in to save stories.
Like this?
Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.
North Dakota's Supreme Court ruled a white girl who used racial slurs to taunt a black classmate isn't protected by the U.S. Constitution's free speech guarantees.
A juvenile court judge ruled the 14-year-old, who is white, had committed disorderly conduct when she used a slur against the 17-year-old African-American girl.
The confrontations occurred last February in a bathroom during a Valley City school dance, and later at a local pizza parlor. An attorney for the 14-year-old girl argued her client was within her free-speech rights by using the slur.
But the Supreme Court ruled her statements were "fighting words" intended to provoke a violent reaction, and they weren't protected by the First Amendment.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
Turn Up Your Support
MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all.
Dear reader,
Political debates with family or friends can get heated. But what if there was a way to handle them better?
You can learn how to have civil political conversations with our new e-book!
Download our free e-book, Talking Sense: Have Hard Political Conversations, Better, and learn how to talk without the tension.
