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Free Speech and the Westboro Baptist Church

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 (Kimihiro Hoshino/Getty)

On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of religious protesters and the hurtful slogans they display at military funerals. In the 8-1 decision, only Justice Alito dissented, calling the type of speech used by Westboro Baptist Church protesters akin to “fighting words.” How far does the First Amendment extend? And what will this ruling mean for other attempts to curb hate speech?

Guests:

Rory Little, professor of law at UC Hastings College of the Law

Barbara Bradley Hagerty, religion correspondent for NPR

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