Hate speech and free speech are not the same

Sunday’s terrorist incident in Boulder wasn’t just an isolated act of hate, it was the tragic consequence of a larger, more insidious erosion of our public discourse.

Let’s be clear: words shape tone, and tone sets the stage for action. When language is filled with vitriol and dehumanization, violence is never far behind. The ripple effect is real; what starts as rhetoric can end in tragedy. And the burden doesn’t fall only on perpetrators, but on all of us who allow hate to fester unchecked.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi led movements rooted in dignity, nonviolence and unwavering moral clarity. Their words mobilized change not through fear, but through hope and courage. Their tone lifted humanity, even in times of brutality.

We’ve seen a troubling drift right here in Boulder. In recent months, members of our City Council have been targeted with antisemitic slurs during public comment sessions, statements made in a government chamber that should be a space of open civic dialogue, not intimidation. Posters have circulated depicting Council members on “Wanted” signs, echoing the kind of imagery used to dehumanize and incite. This is not discourse, it’s threat disguised as dissent.

When hate speech is allowed to masquerade as free speech without consequence, it creates a climate where violence can take root. We must stop pretending these acts are separate from the violence we saw Sunday. They are part of the same chain.

Boulder is not immune to extremism. We can choose to be a community that confronts it, not just in the aftermath of tragedy, but in the moments before it takes shape. That starts by calling out hate in every form, protecting democratic institutions, and insisting that our civic spaces reflect the values of dignity, respect, and shared humanity.

— Rob Kaplan, Boulder

Our community must become more caring

After John Wilkinson of Broomfield was killed on May 18 while riding his bike along 95th Street in Boulder County by a hit-and-run driver, there have been more accidents involving cyclists and motorists. And guess what, the cyclist always comes out on the bottom.

A good friend was struck by a hit and run driver (in a red Ford F150 if anyone saw this) very close to where Wilkinson was killed, a few days earlier.

No surprise there. What was surprising, and shocking, to me was that perhaps a dozen cars behind the Ford looked on but no one stopped.

Shame on the truck driver, but shame on all the lazy, uncaring drivers who passed him by. Fortunately no critical injuries, but bad enough.

In my opinion, the Vision Zero plan should involve educating our entire community to be more careful and caring.

— Beth Bennett, Boulder

Join the Daily Camera’s Community Editorial Board

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