The Supreme Court ruled that "hate speech" (e.g. ,burning a cross as a symbolic act)is protected by the First Amendment in the case of:

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The case of R.A.V. v. St. Paul involved a juvenile who had burned a cross on the lawn of an African-American family, and he was charged under a local ordinance that prohibited "bias-motivated" speech. The Supreme Court held that the ordinance was unconstitutional because it violated the First Amendment's protection of free speech, even though the speech in question was clearly offensive and intended to provoke a reaction. The Court specifically rejected the idea that speech could be restricted solely because of its hateful or discriminatory content, and reaffirmed the principle that government cannot regulate speech based on its viewpoint. Therefore, the ruling confirms that hate speech is protected by the First Amendment.

The Supreme Court Ruled That "Hate Speech" (E