Jackson to Hold Hearing Tuesday on Confronting Hate Speech & Hate Groups in Wake of Charlottesville

In the wake of a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville earlier this year that killed one person and injured dozens of others, Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, will hold a hearing tomorrow that examines the rise in hate speech and hate groups, as well as how to prevent violence while preserving the right to free speech.

The hearing titled “Combatting Hate While Protecting the Constitution” will explore whether additional laws are needed to protect members of the community.

“It is important we address the rising number of hate groups in our state who have committed serious acts of violence,” said Jackson. “While we recognize the fundamental right to free speech, we must do everything possible to acknowledge and ensure the safety of all Californians.”

Following the Charlottesville events, the California State Senate leadership announced a series of public hearings “to ensure California is prepared to protect public safety and free speech in the event of future white supremacist activities.”

Tuesday’s hearing will be held at 9:00 a.m. in Room 112 of the State Capitol. The hearing will include testimony from Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, as well as from representatives of the Council of American-Islamic Relations, the Anti-Defamation League, the NAACP, the Jewish Community Relations Council, Equality California, and others.

For more details, please see attached agenda here.

Jackson represents the 19th Senate District, which includes all of Santa Barbara County and western Ventura County.