The debate about whether the killer should have been prosecuted for federal hate crimes shows how the Justice Department targets defendants based on the opinions they express.
A hearing on white nationalism produced some agreement that the FBI's hate crime statistics don't reveal strong evidence of a surge.
The federal hate crime charges against John T. Earnest are redundant and constitutionally problematic.
"We found evidence of a crime. It just wasn't a hate crime."
"A case with the consequential effects of Mr. Smollett's should not be resolved without a finding of guilt or innocence."
Top executives are departing amidst reports of racial and sexual harassment.
"Where is the accountability in the system?"
The FBI is still investigating, however.
Fake news is real. Momo is not.
Cops arrested Nikki Joly of Jackson, Michigan, for alleged hoax that resulted in the death of his five pets.
We make a mistake when we think outliers somehow represent who we are as a country.
Government statistics often show more reports of both. That doesn't mean either is on the rise.
CPD: "Jussie Smollett is now officially classified as a suspect in a criminal investigation."
As the investigation turns on the Empire star, it's important not to confuse "reality" with "narrative."
Police, Fox contradict local reporters' claims.
Empire star attacked on streets of Chicago late last night.
The federal case against the Charlottesville murderer illustrates how hate crime laws punish people for their bigoted beliefs.
1,000 more agencies submitted data in 2017 vs. 2016, which could account for much of the increase.
The federal case against the Pittsburgh shooter is redundant and constitutionally questionable.
The Student Senate has no regrets, will continue to believe survivors.
But if the show must exist, I have some ripped-from-the-headlines ideas for upcoming plots.
That's what Illinois prosecutors are trying to do by charging Timothy Trybus with hate crimes for objecting to a woman's Puerto Rican flag shirt.
"This is not what the hate crime statute was for. This is criminalizing pure speech, and that violates the First Amendment."
Nick Gillespie talks to former president of the ACLU Nadine Strossen about the difficulties and importance of free speech.
..and other things I learned when I spoke at a U.S. Commission on Civil Rights briefing.
Beware of easy narratives about "bias incidents." We usually don't know who's behind them-and when we find out, they often aren't who you expect.
A "hate group" list loved by the media is bogus.
Should the U.S. join other countries in regulating certain speech? Can people even agree on what 'hate speech' is?
The data should help dispel fears of a Trump-induced surge in American hate crimes.
Both perpetrators were black males.
How common are bona fide "bias incidents"? We don't know.
A confusing report from BuzzFeed suggests perpetrators are seldom caught and true motivations are often unknown.
What exactly does it mean to treat 'online' crimes the same as those committed in person?
Enhanced sentences for rioting against a "protected class"? In two states, that now includes law enforcement.
Did the president really need a teachable moment to denounce neo-Nazis?
"Hate crimes" suspected to be motivated by racial bias have dropped, but those perceived to be motivated by gender bias nearly doubled.
Germany violently enforces the law by busting into dozens of households to prevent a "climate of fear".
A Red Sox fan's bigoted comment about a singer's rendition of the national anthem prompts a police investigation.
Cops say the 19-year-old women violated a state law against harassment based on "race, color, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or national origin."
There is no reason to think federal intervention was needed to achieve justice in this case.
Louisiana already illustrating potential for abuse.
An Israeli Jew is accused of making frightening phone calls that were attributed to a post-Trump rise in anti-Semitism.
The coverage of recent shootings of Indian Americans was muted compared to terrorist attacks
