Ryan Thoreson, an assistant professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Law, spoke with CityBeat about recent neo-Nazi demonstrators rallying in Lincoln Heights and the response from local police.
Evendale Police responded to an incident on Feb. 7 at the Vision Way overpass over I-75 in which masked neo-Nazi demonstrators lined the overpass sidewalk waving large swastika-emblazoned flags. Photos shared online also showed a banner that said "America is for the White Man."
Nearby residents chased the demonstrators off and Evendale Police said they could only charge the protestors with a misdemeanor traffic charge. The response has stirred tensions between community leaders and law enforcement officials.
Thoreson says precedent from U.S. Supreme Court rulings on hateful speech might be instructive.
"I think, as a general matter, the Supreme Court has been very permissive toward hateful speech that is likely to offend and even to deeply offend the general public or particular communities, " Thoreson told CityBeat for a story.
