"Samantha Barbas powerfully demonstrates that hate speech restrictions are more harmful than the speech itself, especially endangering minority voices and views. Documenting how leading US civil rights groups have opposed such restrictions for undermining equal rights causes, the book provides an essential warning to the many current proponents of such restrictions."--Nadine Strossen, Former National President, American Civil Liberties Union, and author of Hate: Why We Should Resist It with Free Speech, Not Censorship "Why does the First Amendment protect even hate speech? Few questions provoke more enduring controversy in American public life. To some, this protection reflects the wisdom of American free speech exceptionalism essential to democracy itself. To others, it is exhibit A in the weaponization of free expression against democratic equality. Barbas cuts through the noise with a lucid, authoritative, and deeply researched account of the events, actors, and ideas that produced the civil-libertarian conception of free speech that continues to shape First Amendment doctrine today."--Jacob Mchangama, author of Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media "An accessible and learned chronicle that illuminates controversies pitting claims to freedom of expression against efforts to protect the dignity of vulnerable racial and ethnic groups. This conflict will be ongoing.

Barbas's volume provides excellent guidance to competing arguments and past resolutions."--Randall Kennedy, Michael R. Klein Professor of Law, Harvard Law School.