The Archive
Reference Library
The founding document as written, a plain overview of the seven Articles, and a glossary of archaic and legal terms.
Back to Supreme Court Rulings
Speech & Press
R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul
Decided: 1992
In brief
Struck down a hate-speech ordinance as impermissible content-based discrimination.
The Court's ruling in depth
St. Paul made it a misdemeanor to display symbols that arouse anger 'on the basis of race, color, creed, religion or gender.' The Court unanimously invalidated it as viewpoint discrimination: even fighting words cannot be selectively banned based on the ideas they express. R.A.V. is the leading modern authority against hate-speech codes.