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Sociologist to Discuss Hate Speech and Free Speech

November 21, 2017

The Bias Incident Response Team at UC Merced presents sociology Professor Nella Van Dyke, speaking on “Hate Speech and the Limits of Free Speech,” from 3-5 p.m. Nov. 29 in the California Room on campus.

The United States has seen an alarming increase in hate crimes since the 2016 election, coupled with concerns over freedom of speech on college campuses. What ties these issues together is hate speech, and the boundaries of the law regarding it often seem unclear.

Van Dyke will discuss these issues, describe the history of hate crime and hate crime legislation in the U.S., and present research on the factors that influence when and where hate crimes occur. The program includes a discussion of what defines a hate crime, what types of speech are protected and what we people do in response.

Everyone is welcome to attend. If you have questions or need accommodations, contact De Acker at dacker@ucmerced.edu.