HATE SPEECH IS NOT A RIGHT

If you are going to defend the free speech rights of those who don’t give a damn about yours, it becomes your obligation to call those same people out because of that. That goes double for those who defend even those who use said rights to promote violence. Former neo-Nazi and Supermax inmate Sean Gillespie opines.

Sean Gillespie

On Aug. 18^th, Fox News correspondent Geraldo Rivera gave an interview concerning the recent Sikh Temple shooting in Wisconsin that included National Socialist Movement (NSM) “Commander” Jeff Schoep, Stormfront webmaster Don Black and former skinhead and anti-racist activist T.J. Leyden. During the interview, both Schoep and Black denied being “hate organizations”, in fact both denied any link to Michael Wade Page, the temple shooter, and claimed they would not encourage such behavior. This despite the fact that Page’s former band Definite Hate is widely known and that he had posted several messages on Stormfront.

One only has to read the countless violent propaganda from NSM and their affiliates, as well as the hate-filled rants on the Stormfront message board to see the fallacy of these hatemongers’ statements. At one point, T.J. Leyden pointed to this truth but Schoep again ignoring overwhelming evidence to the contrary, claimed Mr. Leyden had never been involved in “the movement” – another example of racists who know nothing of what they are talking about.

Although I have been in prison since 2004, I do remember clearly that ALL posts posted on the Stormfront website are reviewed, and as such, Stormfront seems not only to approve violent hate speech but in doing so they encourage others to as well, a fact they should be held accountable for legally. Often this will lead others to commit tragic violent acts of the same nature as what occurred in Wisconsin.

The question is how long will we as Americans allow “freedom of speech” arguments to protect the real puppetmasters of the hate movement from being punished for the violent acts they are behind? They may not commit the acts themselves, but are wholly responsible. Just look at Richard Butler, Matthew Hale and Tom Metzger. Through hate speech and purposeful incitement they used others, often young angry people to do the dirty work for them while claiming innocence.

In my case as a member of Aryan Nations and skinhead, I was continually bombarded with violent literature, music and, in the case of Aryan Nations, misconstrued religious teachings. The racist leaders of Aryan Nations openly espoused violence against the government, Jews, homosexuals, and so called “non-whites”, using the above mentioned mediums. Often the messages used they had falsely interpreted to suit their own needs, inciting more violence. When it comes back to them, they deny any involvement.

In fact, they are involved. Maybe not directly ordering violence, yet in Aryan Nations case for example, Pastor Butler’s hate-filled sermons inspired every violent act from the Order Buford Furrow and even myself.

Hate speech incites violence by its very nature as it only serves to inflame those who listen to it. It is no different than yelling “fire” in a crowded theater when there is no fire. To do so is wrong and illegal, and hate-speech should be no different. The shooting in Wisconsin only underlines the fact that hate speech is driven to inspire violent actions.

Coming away, we must realize that hatred only takes us away from the core of America. That is diversity in our country, and we should never let hatred or hate speech divide us. One face we can all be sure of is that we are all able in America to disagree with each other but we should never allow speech in anger, hatred in politics to turn into violence perpetrated for a cause. That late President John F. Kennedy said it best when he stated “If we cannot now end our difference, at least we can help make the world a safe place for diversity.” These words should sit high in our breasts as Americans, because many men and women of all religions, cultures, races and political parties have bled, sacrificed or died so we could live in a country free to be unafraid of what we believe, think or are. American we all are, and hate can never take that away.

Former Neo-Nazi Sean Gillespie is currently serving a 39-year prison term at ADX Florence (Supermax) in Colorado for firebombing a synagogue. He has since renounced his beliefs and now warns others against them.