[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:13.72,0:00:17.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,2017 was a hell of a year \Nfor the First Amendment.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.63,0:00:21.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nowhere was more central\Nto this culture war
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.01,0:00:24.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than the campuses\Nand universities across America,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.22,0:00:27.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,including right here, \Nat the University of Nevada, Reno.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.05,0:00:32.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Two UNR students became infamous \Nfor their speech in the past year,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.78,0:00:36.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,found themselves embroiled in two\Nof the biggest free speech controversies
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.42,0:00:38.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the past couple of years.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:39.89,0:00:44.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Student, Peter Cytanovic became the face \Nof white nationalism,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.03,0:00:47.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when a picture of him snarling, \Nholding a tiki torch
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.14,0:00:50.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the Unite the Right Rally \Nin Charlottesville went viral.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.40,0:00:54.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,On the complete opposite end \Nof the political spectrum,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.40,0:00:55.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you can call it that,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.43,0:00:59.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,graduate, Colin Kaepernick,\Nwent on to the NFL
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.69,0:01:03.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and used his position to highlight\Npolice brutality and racial injustice,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.91,0:01:07.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by taking a knee\Nduring the National Anthem.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:08.39,0:01:12.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Both men became incredibly \Ncontroversial for their speech.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.39,0:01:17.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There were calls and campaigns for both\Nmen to be expelled for their opinions.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.82,0:01:23.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But regardless, whether you agree with one\Nof them, or both of them, or neither,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.70,0:01:28.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the First Amendment protects\Nboth of those men and their opinions
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.66,0:01:31.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from censorship and retaliation\Nby the government.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.68,0:01:34.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's a good thing,\Nand I want to tell you why.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:36.10,0:01:38.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's becoming more common for me to hear
Dialogue: 0,0:01:38.41,0:01:41.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that we should have\Nlower protections for speech,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.16,0:01:43.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that specifically, we should\Ncriminalize hate speech.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.90,0:01:45.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I hear this from the left a lot.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:45.94,0:01:49.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think a lot of progressives\Nenvision a world where people
Dialogue: 0,0:01:49.77,0:01:53.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like Colin Kaepernick can take a knee\Nand protest of racial injustice,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:53.94,0:01:56.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,without fear of retaliation \Nfrom the government,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.38,0:01:59.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,without fear that the President\Nwill pressure the NFL to fire him.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.02,0:02:04.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But they also want to live in a world\Nwhere a government school like UNR
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.02,0:02:08.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can expel a student like Peter Cytanovic\Nfor his hateful views.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:09.51,0:02:11.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That is a fantasy.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:11.26,0:02:13.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And more than that, it's dangerous.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.73,0:02:15.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm a progressive,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.83,0:02:20.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's not hard for me to pick between\Nwhite nationalism and racial justice.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.38,0:02:23.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One is abhorrent, one is an overdue\Ndemand for equal rights.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.92,0:02:27.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what would happen if I gave\Na government the right to decide
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.04,0:02:29.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which of those men\Nwas too hateful to speak?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.95,0:02:32.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,President Trump \Nis a pretty useful barometer.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:32.63,0:02:36.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He called the marchers\Nat Charlottesville, "very fine people,"
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.63,0:02:40.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,while reserving his ire\Nfor black football players who take a knee
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.42,0:02:42.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as "sons of bitches."
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.35,0:02:46.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Your hate speech may not\Nbe the government's idea of hate speech.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.24,0:02:49.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I sure as hell know,\Nit's not mine.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:49.51,0:02:52.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But even if you happen\Nto agree with Trump,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:52.13,0:02:55.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can you be confident that\Nthe next President, the next government
Dialogue: 0,0:02:55.86,0:02:58.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,will agree with your world view?
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.58,0:03:00.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You shouldn't be.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.77,0:03:04.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's why, above all,\NI am an anti-authoritarian.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.52,0:03:07.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I know that the U.S. government\Nhas a long history
Dialogue: 0,0:03:07.01,0:03:10.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of wielding its raw power\Nagainst the vulnerable communities
Dialogue: 0,0:03:10.81,0:03:12.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that speak truth to that power,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:12.63,0:03:15.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,against those who seek\Nto change the status quo.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:16.42,0:03:21.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And because I want every student\Nto be able to take a knee
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.18,0:03:23.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,without fear of government censorship,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.51,0:03:26.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am a true believer \Nin the First Amendment.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.42,0:03:32.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But even as a First Amendment attorney,\NI find a lot of the common tropes
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.30,0:03:36.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and myths about the First Amendment\Nreally unsatisfying.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.27,0:03:40.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, I wanna go through three\Nof these myths, dust them off,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:40.03,0:03:41.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and hopefully in the process,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.45,0:03:46.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we'll come up with three practical rules\Nfor exercising your free speech rights,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.74,0:03:49.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,powerfully and strategically.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.02,0:03:53.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the first one, is one I suspect\Nwe all learned in Kindergarten,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.27,0:03:56.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if you remember your nursery rhymes,\Nplease feel free to join me.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.76,0:04:01.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sticks and stones may break my bones\Nbut words will never hurt me.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.100,0:04:05.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Does anyone, as an adult,\Nactually believe this?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:05.24,0:04:08.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's manifestly untrue.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.32,0:04:12.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm a free speech attorney precisely\Nbecause I believe that words matter,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:12.32,0:04:16.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's ludicrous to protect free speech\Nby denying its very power.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.93,0:04:20.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, why do we lie to kids, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:20.75,0:04:23.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why do we fabricate this thing for them?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.96,0:04:29.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, it's because humans of all ages\Ncan be vicious, it's just true.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:30.09,0:04:35.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when a kid is at the receiving end\Nof injustice, a taunt, hateful language,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:35.32,0:04:39.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we want that kid\Nto be empowered, not diminished.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:40.97,0:04:45.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In February, notorious troll,\NMilo Yiannopoulos,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:45.55,0:04:48.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,had a planned speech at UC Berkeley.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.35,0:04:52.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Students and others \Nin the community went nuts.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:52.35,0:04:55.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There were protests, there were riots,\Nthings were set on fire.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:55.82,0:04:59.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The administration cancelled his talk.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:59.04,0:05:02.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In April, there was a repeat, same thing,\Nexcept this time, it was Ann Coulter.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.98,0:05:04.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She was going to speak,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.61,0:05:07.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,School officials said,\N"There's going to be riots."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:07.24,0:05:08.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They cancelled her talk.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.65,0:05:11.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Those two individuals, Ann and Milo,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.50,0:05:14.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,man, they became martyrs.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.47,0:05:18.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They got to take on the roll of victims\Nof liberal censorship.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.41,0:05:20.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They went on media tours,\Nthe media ate it up.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:20.82,0:05:23.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They got more attention \Nfor being silenced than they ever did
Dialogue: 0,0:05:23.89,0:05:26.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for trying to peddle \Ntheir actual substantive views.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:26.74,0:05:31.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, I think it's helpful to think \Nof professional, provocateurs and trolls
Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.61,0:05:34.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as we would those schoolyard bullies.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.27,0:05:37.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yeah, their words can hurt, \Nthere's no point in denying that.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.26,0:05:41.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the better question is, \Nhow do we respond to that, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:41.26,0:05:47.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And a troll, a provocateur,\Nwants you to censor them.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.42,0:05:50.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's part of the goal,\Nit feeds into their power,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:50.99,0:05:52.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it gives them something else to sell.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:52.76,0:05:55.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, we don't have to march to that tune.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:55.95,0:05:58.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You don't have to play that role.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:58.00,0:06:00.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we can think of them,\Nlike these bullies,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:00.98,0:06:05.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,yeah their words hurt, \Nbut, there's also power in sass.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.74,0:06:09.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's power in refusing \Nto be goaded into a fight
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.34,0:06:11.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or to play the role of censor.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.29,0:06:13.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, don't do it.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.06,0:06:18.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But some words wound in ways\Nthat are different from others.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:18.93,0:06:20.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which brings us to myth number two.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.97,0:06:24.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I hear this one a lot, \Nparticularly online.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:24.03,0:06:28.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We all know that hate speech \Nisn't protected by the First Amendment.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.22,0:06:30.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not so.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.31,0:06:34.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As that anecdote about Trump\Nhopefully made you think,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.71,0:06:37.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hate speech can be \Nin the eye of the beholder,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:37.33,0:06:40.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ear of the behearer, I guess,\Nif that's a word.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.97,0:06:44.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just this week in Spain,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:44.46,0:06:49.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a man was arrested for the hate crime,\Nthis is real, of calling cops "slackers."
Dialogue: 0,0:06:49.86,0:06:51.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on Facebook.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.70,0:06:54.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Police are covered\Nunder the Spanish Hate Crime Law.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:54.100,0:06:58.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's what criticizing your government\Nlooks like in a country
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.97,0:07:00.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,without a First Amendment.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:01.47,0:07:05.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, we don't have to protect speech\Njust out of paranoia
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.47,0:07:09.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that our government will warp\Nwhat we think speech and hate speech are.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:11.40,0:07:12.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's also an upshot.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.89,0:07:15.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In the late 1960's,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:15.18,0:07:21.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a KKK leader, named Charles Brandenburg,\Nwas arrested on criminal charges
Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.47,0:07:25.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of incitement to violence\Nfor holding a KKK rally.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:26.02,0:07:30.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The speech was as abhorrent,\Nas vicious, racist as you might imagine.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:31.20,0:07:35.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, the KKK's lawyers took it\Nall the way up to the Supreme Court.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:35.66,0:07:38.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And, they challenged this crime.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.92,0:07:41.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Said that he had a free speech right\Nto be a KKK member,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.54,0:07:44.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the Supreme Court thought about it \Nand said, "You're right."
Dialogue: 0,0:07:44.80,0:07:48.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Before we allow the government\Nto punish you for your speech,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.80,0:07:51.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it has to pass such a high bar,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:51.18,0:07:53.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there has to be an immediate \Nand specific risk
Dialogue: 0,0:07:53.88,0:07:56.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of actual physical violence\Nto a real person.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.98,0:08:00.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this KKK rally, well, \Nit was a group of white racists,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:00.98,0:08:03.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but there wasn't anyone around\Nthat they were intending
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.62,0:08:05.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to actually engage in violence against.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:05.86,0:08:08.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That case, in a vacuum,\Nmight be tough to swallow.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.56,0:08:10.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think particularly\Nif you're a person of color.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:10.94,0:08:12.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But it's not the end of the story.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.74,0:08:14.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,At about the same time,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.100,0:08:18.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a lion of the Civil Rights Movement\Nnamed Charles Evers,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:18.100,0:08:24.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was giving a huge speech\Nto a gathering of NAACP supporters,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.10,0:08:28.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who had come together to boycott\Nwhite-owned racist businesses
Dialogue: 0,0:08:28.64,0:08:31.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that didn't allow black Americans\Nto come into their business.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.84,0:08:35.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And as he's giving his speech,\NEvers gets worked up and really passionate
Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.94,0:08:39.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he says, "I'll wring the damn neck\Nof anybody who breaks this boycott."
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.94,0:08:42.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, what's he done, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.12,0:08:45.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He's fantasized\Nabout some future violence,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.24,0:08:49.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's hypothetical, \Nhe's not pointing at Bob there, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:49.32,0:08:52.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, the Brandenburg case\Nhas just come out of the Supreme Court
Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.54,0:08:56.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the NAACP's lawyers look at that\Nand they say, "Well, this can't be right.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:56.26,0:08:59.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,How can a KKK leader get \Na 'get out of jail' free card,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:59.98,0:09:05.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but our Civil Rights guy, Mr. Evers,\Nis being sued for incitement
Dialogue: 0,0:09:05.36,0:09:09.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by the same white-owned businesses\Nthat he was protesting?'
Dialogue: 0,0:09:10.20,0:09:12.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Mr. Evers challenged these charges, too.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:12.74,0:09:15.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he went all the way up \Nto the Supreme Court.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:15.13,0:09:16.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the Supreme Court said,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:16.58,0:09:21.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Well, I guess we're constrained\Nby that Brandenburg case
Dialogue: 0,0:09:21.21,0:09:23.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to give you your free speech rights, too."
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.40,0:09:28.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to be clear, by the way, \Nthat I don't see anything equivalent
Dialogue: 0,0:09:28.12,0:09:31.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between the KKK and the NAACP.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:33.16,0:09:38.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But the court is an odd place,\Nit's a bit stripped of context in history.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:38.100,0:09:41.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a kind of bastion of privilege.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:41.48,0:09:43.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And all they boiled it down to was,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.82,0:09:48.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Is this theoretical future violence?\NOr is there an immediate
Dialogue: 0,0:09:48.18,0:09:50.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and specific risk of harm\Nto a real person?"
Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.38,0:09:51.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they said,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:51.22,0:09:54.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Well from that point of view,\Nthese look the same."
Dialogue: 0,0:09:54.48,0:09:59.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, I know a lot of people\Nare skeptical that in practice,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.70,0:10:02.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the rights that are extended to people\Nlike a KKK leader,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.88,0:10:05.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,actually trickle down to somebody\Nlike an NAACP leader.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:05.82,0:10:07.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're not wrong to be skeptical.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:07.72,0:10:12.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Our country has always taken a while\Nto distribute its rights equally,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:12.06,0:10:13.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,among its citizenry, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:13.36,0:10:16.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Think of the right to vote,\NDid we all get it at the same time,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:16.42,0:10:18.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,regardless of sex, regardless of race?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.36,0:10:19.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Absolutely not.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:19.10,0:10:20.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or even in today's world,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:20.42,0:10:23.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,do you think your constitutional rights\Nat arrest look the same
Dialogue: 0,0:10:23.58,0:10:24.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,regardless of your race?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:24.74,0:10:26.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Your right to carry a gun?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.60,0:10:29.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Do you think that looks the same\Nwhether you're black or you're white?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.96,0:10:31.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Again, no.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:31.24,0:10:36.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But is the answer to eliminate or lessen\Nthe very constitutional protections
Dialogue: 0,0:10:36.66,0:10:40.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that allow us to hold the government\Naccountable when it violates our rights?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.46,0:10:42.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Hell no.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:43.24,0:10:47.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Instead, making sure that constitutional\Nrights are evenly distributed
Dialogue: 0,0:10:47.24,0:10:48.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is a process, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:48.96,0:10:52.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's our job,\Nthe first amendment is no different.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:52.74,0:10:55.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, when the Supreme Court,\Nwhen the powers that be,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:55.36,0:10:58.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,give that right to somebody\Nlike Brandenburg, a KKK leader,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.96,0:11:02.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's our job, Civil Rights leaders,\Nthose who believe in equal rights,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:02.84,0:11:06.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in justice, to ratchet everybody up\Nto that same level of protection
Dialogue: 0,0:11:06.96,0:11:08.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for constitutional rights.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:08.61,0:11:11.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's precisely what the NAACP did.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:11.74,0:11:13.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And that's all of our job, too.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:13.68,0:11:16.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's what I do\Nas a free speech attorney,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:16.64,0:11:19.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's what you \Nneed to do as students.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:19.08,0:11:21.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You need to make sure\Nthat these theoretical rules
Dialogue: 0,0:11:21.95,0:11:24.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,filter down on the ground.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:25.43,0:11:27.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So are students up for it?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:27.38,0:11:30.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That brings us to our third\Nand final myth.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:30.10,0:11:33.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Today's students are just snowflakes."
Dialogue: 0,0:11:34.71,0:11:36.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I hear it all the time.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:36.26,0:11:40.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Usually meant as an insult, by the way,\Nas beautiful as snowflakes are.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:41.87,0:11:45.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, because of the First Amendment,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:45.45,0:11:51.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,public schools and universities\Ncan not ban people from campus,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:51.75,0:11:53.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,simply because their views are hateful.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:54.73,0:11:58.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, that means that over the past year,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:58.01,0:12:00.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,black and Jewish students\Nhave had to leave their dorm rooms
Dialogue: 0,0:12:00.85,0:12:05.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and walk to class passing by people\Nwho have called for their extermination.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:05.16,0:12:09.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It means that women students\Nhave had to walk by speakers on campus
Dialogue: 0,0:12:09.28,0:12:10.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who call feminism a cancer.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.94,0:12:13.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,LGBT students have had to walk by \Npeople saying,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:13.62,0:12:16.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"Transgenderism is a medical disorder."
Dialogue: 0,0:12:17.40,0:12:20.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No adult has to go to work\Nand walk by people saying
Dialogue: 0,0:12:20.65,0:12:23.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they're less than human\Nor that they shouldn't exist.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:23.99,0:12:27.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't think students are snowflakes,\NI think they're badasses.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:29.14,0:12:32.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Because they bear the brunt\Nof that First Amendment on campus,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:32.87,0:12:36.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where these professional\Nprovocateurs come, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:36.46,0:12:40.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, when I say that silencing\Nyour political opponents isn't the answer,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:40.28,0:12:43.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's not because I think that's weak,\Nit's because I think that's unstrategic.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:43.94,0:12:47.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, if silencing your enemies\Nisn't an answer,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:47.46,0:12:50.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what does empowerment look like\Nin the First Amendment?
Dialogue: 0,0:12:50.92,0:12:53.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well sometimes, it's just sheer numbers.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:53.77,0:12:58.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The week after Charlottesville,\Na group of people planned a rally
Dialogue: 0,0:12:58.44,0:13:02.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,on Boston Common that they termed,\N"The Free Speech Rally."
Dialogue: 0,0:13:02.04,0:13:05.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They were alt-right folks,\Nand this is a week after Charlottesville.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:05.97,0:13:09.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Only a handful\Nof permit-holders showed up.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:09.52,0:13:14.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, 40,000+ members of the \NMassachusetts community
Dialogue: 0,0:13:14.15,0:13:17.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and from across the country,\Nengaged in a counter protest
Dialogue: 0,0:13:17.38,0:13:20.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,ringing Boston Common,\Nstanding strong, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:20.92,0:13:23.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sending a very powerful\Nmessage of resistance together.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.99,0:13:25.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's a blizzard of snowflakes, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:25.92,0:13:27.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's no weakness in that.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:27.79,0:13:31.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But, sometimes, just a single person\Nwill make a difference.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:31.18,0:13:33.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One of my favorite stories \Nfrom the last couple of years,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:33.92,0:13:37.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one of my favorite free speech victories\Nfrom the last few years,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:37.81,0:13:44.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is a musician who was really appalled \Nthat the KKK was planning to march
Dialogue: 0,0:13:44.64,0:13:47.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in his hometown of Charleston.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:47.77,0:13:51.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so, using the tools at his disposal,\Nhe got out his sousaphone.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:51.41,0:13:54.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's one of these big brass instruments,\NBOM-BOM.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:54.74,0:13:57.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And he got out of the street\Nand he got next to the KKK
Dialogue: 0,0:13:57.71,0:14:01.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he just oompa, oompa,\Noompa, oompa-ed along with them.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:01.55,0:14:02.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:14:02.43,0:14:05.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's amazing, you should look up \Nthe video, it's worth watching.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:05.77,0:14:12.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And without saying a single word,\Nhe stripped these fascists bare.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:12.56,0:14:15.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They couldn't even bear to go on\Nmarching, they were so humiliated.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:15.77,0:14:18.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You can't keep up\Na straight face of fascism
Dialogue: 0,0:14:18.12,0:14:22.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with a goofy tuba line behind you,\Nit's just hard to do.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:22.72,0:14:27.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So look, I believe in the First Amendment\Nfundamentally, first and foremost,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:27.04,0:14:29.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I know \Nit's the greatest tool we have
Dialogue: 0,0:14:29.20,0:14:32.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to keep the government out of \Nregulating the conversations
Dialogue: 0,0:14:32.24,0:14:34.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that spark every change in the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:34.10,0:14:37.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you wanna keep having conversations\Nthat change the world,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:37.20,0:14:39.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you should embrace \Nthis First Amendment, too,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:39.62,0:14:41.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,messiness and all.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:41.04,0:14:44.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And even though those three myths\Nmight not be true,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:44.80,0:14:49.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I hope they started to reveal \Na few real nuggets of truth
Dialogue: 0,0:14:49.08,0:14:53.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about how we can strategically exercise\Nour powerful First Amendment rights.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:53.14,0:14:55.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Number one: Know your history.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:55.50,0:14:59.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Know that when rights are extended\Nto the powerful and privileged,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:59.90,0:15:03.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that it's our job to make sure \Nthat everybody benefits from those rights.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:03.72,0:15:07.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Understand that the same First Amendment,\Nthat first extended to a KKK member,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:07.90,0:15:10.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,was used strategically\Nby Civil Rights leaders
Dialogue: 0,0:15:10.28,0:15:12.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to cover the NAACP leader as well.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:12.82,0:15:15.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's a success story\Nand we have to keep doing it.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:15.88,0:15:19.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Number two: Don't try to silence\Nyour way out of a debate.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:19.96,0:15:24.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As we've seen from Free Speech Week,\Nas we've seen from the Free Speech Rally,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:24.42,0:15:26.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,people trying to co-op\Nthe term Free speech
Dialogue: 0,0:15:26.52,0:15:28.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,just feeds them power.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:28.28,0:15:29.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We can't let them do that.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:29.98,0:15:33.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Free Speech as a concept, its power\Nis in its indivisibility,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:33.74,0:15:38.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,its equal for the KKK leader\Nand the NAACP leader alike, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:15:38.88,0:15:40.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So don't dance to that tune.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:40.90,0:15:45.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You don't have to give the provocateur\Nthe censorship she's desperately hoping
Dialogue: 0,0:15:45.18,0:15:46.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you give her.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:46.70,0:15:48.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, that brings us to number three.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:48.62,0:15:50.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dance to your own tune.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:51.14,0:15:55.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Figure out for yourself \Nwhen you go to a counter protest,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:55.17,0:15:57.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in numbers or alone with your tuba.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:57.76,0:16:01.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Figure out when you hold an alternative\Nand more loving event across campus.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:01.94,0:16:05.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Figure out when you think there are ideas\Nthat are just fundamentally unworthy
Dialogue: 0,0:16:05.58,0:16:06.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of debate.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:07.48,0:16:11.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And, the way that you figure out\Nhow to handle these conflicts,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:11.10,0:16:15.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,how to handle speech that you abhor,\Ncan be a great guideline
Dialogue: 0,0:16:15.24,0:16:18.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for how you handle conflict\Nthrough out the rest of your life.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:18.78,0:16:20.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,My name is Lee Rowland.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:20.39,0:16:25.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm an unabashed progressive,\NI'm a skeptic, I'm an anti-authoritarian.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:25.31,0:16:27.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For all of those reasons,
Dialogue: 0,0:16:27.28,0:16:30.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I believe in a robust\Nand indivisible First Amendment.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:30.74,0:16:31.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Join me.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:31.99,0:16:33.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:16:33.05,0:16:34.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)