Hate speech has been something that has been plaguing our country for centuries; Whether it be racial, transphobic, homophobic anti-Semitic or ableist slurs these hurtful slurs do not benefit us in todays society. For simplicities sake I will refer to everyone effected as minorities. 

Hate speech should no longer have a place in our society, it should no longer be defended by the first amendment, it should be considered both harassment and I hate crime. No one should have to be afraid of simply existing. Mental health is important and should be taken seriously, there have been too many suicides linked to the harassment of minorities and nothing was done until after the fact. 

I know people are worried that a law like this will be taken advantage of by certain groups and political parties, I hear the concern, but that doesn’t mean that the issue that stands before us should be ignored. 

Civil rights is something we all have, but in the eyes of the law that does not seem to matter when it comes to the first amendment protecting hate speech. 

I know there will be many questions and many discussing that need and should be about making a law such as this, but I’m ready to move forwards and actually have America live up to its full name. We are the UNITED States of America not the divided states of America. So please let’s do something about the plague of hate washing over our nation.