Is Hate Speech Free Speech?

Art is most commonly known as one of the best ways to express your true feelings and emotions. Whether it's painting or simply jotting down lyrics to the point of creating a new hit song.

Rapper Jamal Knox, more commonly known by his stage name Mayhem Mal, was recently charged in Philadelphia courts for communicating threats towards police officers in his song, "F the Police".

In his fairly vulgar lyrics, he goes on to name specific police officers that he wanted to do harm to. Once his case made it to a judge, they convicted him and sentenced him because the lyrics were found to be a literal true threat and proves subjective intent. His plead to the courts was that putting him in jail for his lyricism actually violates the first amendment, his right to freedom of speech. The government claims to have found him guilty due to the fact that his lyrics leads to "incitement".The Philadelphia Supreme Court won't take Knox's case due to the fact that they agree with the lower courts decision.

 In my opinion, while I believe that everyone has a right to freedom of speech, everyone in this world should feel safe in their community, especially the police officers that sacrifice their lives every day. I understand the court's decision because his lyrics can very well lead to the death of an officer. Many of his fans can possibly be just as angry at that very officer and can do harm because they idolize Mayhem Mal.

In the world that we live in today, many have pushed the limit to exactly how much "freedom" we have within the first amendment. Whether a person uses social media or any other way to express emotions it is vital to understand your rights can be taken away from you if another life is threatened.

Jamal Knox Vs. Philadelphia