The First Amendment prevents Congress from passing any laws that abridge the freedom of speech. But what does that actually mean? While some claim that limits on speech are necessary for marginalized persons to feel included, others argue that the criminalization of speech gives too much power to the government. We’ll consider the history of speech laws in the United States and how the Supreme Court has ruled on those efforts. If free speech must endure hate speech, how might this fundamental freedom help us build more vibrant communities?

All arguments are welcome as we make full use of our reasoning powers to bring the First Amendment to life!

This presentation is supported by the Vermont Humanities Council.