Local reaction to the Gov Palin lynched effigy. Interesting take on the definition of a hate crime. Is this considered a threat on the life of major candidate for the Vice Presidency? Would this be a free speech issue if it were Obama being lynched in effigy? Wonder where they ordered it from. The Gaza Strip? Maybe they exchanged Obama t-shirts with the brothers who bought $33K worth of t-shirts.
From VICTORIA KIM, LA Times:
"The sheriff made this clear; this is a country that has freedom of speech, and we protect that right even when we think it's idiotic and stupid and in bad taste and wrong to do," said Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. "If it is nonviolent and doesn't cause any problems, then they have the right to do it."Ill-advised. The pigs got what they wanted: 15 seconds of shame. What are the chances they're registered democrats?
Whitmore said that potential hate crimes are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If the same display had been made with a Barack Obama likeness, for example, authorities would have to evaluate it independently, Whitmore said.
"That adds a whole other social, historical hate aspect to the display, and that is embedded in the consciousness of the country," he said, adding he's not sure whether it would be a hate crime. "It would be ill-advised of anybody to speculate on that."
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