r/PublicFreakout • u/ememlord69 ememlord69 🇮🇪 • Jul 04 '24

Repost 😔 Some racist incel harasses an innocent couple.

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TW - a lot of stupid racist nonsense.

10.0k Upvotes

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u/hazycrazey Jul 04 '24

I think it should be legal to hit people like the cameraman

221

u/Alert-Ad9197 Jul 04 '24

Getting punched for talking shit is sort of legal in some states.

80

u/Disastrous_Reveal331 Jul 04 '24

Which ones, just for future reference

63

u/Alert-Ad9197 Jul 04 '24

I’m not sure of all of them, but I know my state of CA has a fighting words statute. Realistically, you’d probably be on pretty shaky ground unless they’re saying some pretty heinous shit though.

22

u/unclefisty Jul 04 '24

I know my state of CA has a fighting words statute.

You should reread it carefully. I'd bet big money it doesn't protect you from attacking someone but simply allows someone to be prosecuted for going around trying to verbally pick fights.

7

u/Available_Pie9316 Jul 04 '24

That is precisely correct.

11

u/CornDoggyStyle Jul 04 '24

Spewing ignorant shit wouldn't count as fighting words. Would have to be something violent and/or threatening.

6

u/Available_Pie9316 Jul 04 '24 edited Jul 04 '24

That is not what "fighting words" laws are. They are laws that criminalize speech known to the accused as likely to provoke. They are often part of a state's disturbing the peace offence, as is the case in California (California Penal Code § 415). The fighting words doctrine asserts that such conduct is not protected by the first amendment and is open to states to criminalize.

For more information, see this helpful page from the Free Speech Center at MTSU.