If someone had stood by the effigy and protested or put up Republican ads or petitions or whatnot, I’d be more inclined to believe this falls under the “Free speech” category.
The fact that someone just hung it up on a tree without follow up or taking responsibility for it or bringing attention to some political cause?
That puts it into the Racial Unrest Category for me.
At least the Palin Effigy was put by a dude’s house and in his property. We understand who did it, and why they did it. This was not the same thing in my opinion.
That’s my 2 cents on the matter.
It may be free speech, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it or choose to interpret it as such.
If they wished to convey their anonymous message better, well then they should have done so.
If not, I’ll interpret the message as best as I can see fit with the information I’m given.
All the parties involved in both of the “hangings” should be ashamed of themselves. Hating a person to the degree that you wish them dead because they are a Republican/Democrat makes no more sense to me than hating a person because he is black.
Some (very poor IMHO) decisions in the US have permitted restrictions on speech by federal and state governments and their agents on the basis of prohibiting ‘hate speech.’
There has never been a clear rationale provide as to why this kind of speech falls outside the protections of pure political speech, as the expression of an idea etc.
Personally I consider the hanging of Palin and Obama effigies the work of immature assholes. I think to call either a hate crime is really really stretching the definition of the term (though I’ve never been a fan of hate crime legislation anyway).
No. You could set the state police on him for assault, but I doubt it would go far.
Also, arguably, it could be classified as a hate crime, but I find it unlikely that would happen either. I just don’t see what federal prohibition it would come under.
In point of fact I did complain to the police. The officer offered to take him in (he was on parole) but felt that if she talked to him and read him the riot act more would be accomplished. I let her judgment be my guide.