Law & Order (TV Series)

Hate (1999)

Sam Waterston: Executive ADA Jack McCoy

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Quotes 

• D.A. Adam Schiff : U.S. Attorney called, asked if there's a civil rights prosecution here.

  Jack McCoy : Far as we can tell, this wasn't a bias crime. The victim was one of their own.

  D.A. Adam Schiff : What's the matter, they run out of people to hate?

• Jack McCoy : Of course Mr. Willis never said, Kill Christina Osborne. Adolph Hitler never said, Kill this Jew or that Jew. But there's no doubting his intent, nor the result of what he did say. The defense paraphrased Supreme Court Justices Holmes and Brandeis. I think you should hear what they actually wrote in 1927. No danger flowing from speech can be deemed clear and present, unless the incidence of the evil apprehended is so imminent that it may befall before there is opportunity for full discussion. If there be time to expose the evil by the processes of education. When we talk about free speech, we mean the exchange of ideas, dialogue, full discussion. Where was the opportunity for discussion in Mr. Willis' world? He handpicked unstable young people. He told them to associate only with those who thought the way they did. And then he filled their heads with suspicion, paranoia, hate and violence. Prepare for war. Destroy traitors. Violence is necessary. Hate Jews, African-Americans, gay people. Hate is your friend. Embrace it. And he expects us to believe that he didn't intend them to be violent? That he couldn't foresee somebody might get killed? Who's he kidding? The First Amendment protects words that persuade. It doesn't protect words that incite. That's what Mr. Willis did. That's why it's called murder.

• E.A.D.A. Jack McCoy : Willis' audience are 15, 16, 17 years old, we already restrict speech to minors: cigarette ads, pornography, why not hate speech too?