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- Title
The First Amendment, Policing, and White Supremacy in America.
- Authors
Gordon, Arusha
- Abstract
In recent years, journalists, researchers and community activists have identified thousands of law enforcement of Acers holding white supremacist, misogynistic, Islamophobic, homophobic, and other bigoted views. In addition to engaging in hateful activity online, officers have displayed insignia and hand signals for white supremacist groups, performed Heil Hitler salutes, referred to racial justice activists as thugs, and encouraged violence against people Of color. Members of law enforcement also joined the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. These reports are noteworthy not.just because they sever trust between communities and local law enforcement, but also because they raise questions about freedom of speech, freedom of association, and the role of police. This article provides an in-depth exploration of the issue of white supremacists in law enforcement. Although previous articles have considered issues relating to the First Amendment rights of public employees, this article focuses more specifically on First Amendment jurisprudence as it relates to law enforcement, especially in the age of the internet. In addition to providing an overview of the relevant First Amendment legalframework, this article considers real world examples of officers with white supremacist ideologies or ties, the response to these reports by local municipal leaders, and how First Amendment precedent may apply. Finally, the article considers more systemic responses to white supremacist police and examines state legislative responses to the issue, as well as additional recommendations for local, state, and federal leaders.
- Subjects
AMERICA; UNITED States Capitol (Washington, D.C.); WHITE supremacy; FREEDOM of association; CIVIL service; LAW enforcement; SOCIAL justice; EMPLOYEE rights; HAND signals
- Publication
Texas Journal on Civil Liberties & Civil Rights, 2022, Vol 28, Issue 1, p33
- ISSN
1930-2045
- Publication type
Article