Can I have somebody arrested for making a racist remark?
Would I need proof or would the police accept my statement? What if it is gestures aimed at me, that could be construed as being racist?
Could I get compensation?
Answers:
Depends on the remark, but it could come under Public Order Act Offences of threatening/insulting words or behaviour, or maybe harrassment if it's repeated behaviour. If any offence is deemed to be racially aggravated, this automatically makes it more serious and the penalty imposed would be harsher.
Generally speaking, if the victims perceives that the behaviour was racist, it is deemed to be so.
Compensation could be awarded by the courts if the case came to prosecution, although in practice compensation orders are not made that often.
Talk to the police, they have a remit to deal with all forms of hate crime and should take your complaint seriously. Whether the perpetrator is ever taken to court depends on whether they can obtain enough evidence for a charge and prosecution, but you should still report it anyway. That way the crime statistics for reported crimes give a better picture of how widespread a problem this is.
I don't think so. There is no law against it.
It just proves that they are an idiot.
Opps, Sorry,I apologize to idiots everywhere for comparing them to racists...
Sure, maybe if you live in Cuba. You can maybe try harassment, but arrest is doubtful.
Grow up.
No. Racist speech is protected speech under the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.
You would have to prove that a), the person made threats to harm or kill you, and b) that it is credible that the person might actually carry them out.
If just used a racial slur, you have nothing be free speech.
You will need proof. Are you that thin skinned that you can't take a racist remark or two? Remember the sticks and stone rule and be an example of what not to be.
Freedom of speech
The police would be obliged to investigate your report, but with no proof other than your statement, it is unlikely that charges would be brought. Gestures certainally do count.
No, it's not illegal to be stupid. If they've threatened you in anyway, you can press charges for that, but there is no compensation.
Freedom of speech, no matter how hateful, is protected.
I get called white trash all the time but no-one takes me seriously when i complain about being people being racist, but then when the boots on the other foot, that is a whole new story.
Not necessarily. If it is a continued thing it could be considered harassment. If they commit an actual crime against you (assault) while yelling racial slurs, it will be considered a hate crime. Just to call you a racial slur, not gonna be able to prosecute. You want to sue? For what damages? Your feelings were hurt? Good luck with that.
No!! What kind of country would this be if people were arrested for simply making a remark that you didn't like, regardless of the fact was it racist or not. You could file a civil law suite if you wanted but that would be frivolous in my opinion.
I am not sure that you could, I think that an awful lot of proof would be needed. P.S. your Avatar is very strange why have your got whitish marks round the edge of our face? Is it one that your have constructed yourself.
"If anyone speaks badly of you, live so that none will believe it."
-Socrates
If it were possible to have people arrested for unacceptable remarks, Fred Phelps would be on death row.
No, I'm sorry to say you're probably out of luck.
When my first wife was alive, she used to get it all the time. She was part black (grandfather) and the whites were the worst at making remarks at her. And me being a white guy, would get it also.
We would have people drive by, like in a mall parking lot, say something stupid and they'd drive off.
This didn't happen when we were by ourselves, just when we were together, holding hands and such.
People can be such A-Holes.
Its the compensation that worries me, are you in it only for the money ?
Sorry, but no. I wish we could receive compensation every time an ignorant butt head opens their stupid mouth, but we can't. What a great law that would make though, huh? I mean, what if everyone who made a comment to us that was insulting, got fined 10 bucks for it. I would probably hope people would insult me because then I would get rich!
Unfortunately, "free speech" seems to include "hate speech" towards our fellow friends and neighbors. I think people should be fined for being hateful.. . . . . the money will go to the poor.
It would be nice if making a racist comment were a crime, but free speech destroyed any hope of making people behave in a civil manner. There is too much freedom in this country.
If you feel that your life is threatened in any way by the people who made the racist remarks, by all means, report it to the police. But, so far, from what you have said, no crime has been committed yet.
I am sorry that you had to experience this incident.
I pray for the ignorant, that God will touch their hearts and minds.
you want money for someone calling you a name.. i dont think so!!
Nope, "freedom of speech".
Compensation? For being called a name? You should be ashamed for even asking. Why do so many people think there is a Constitutional right to not be offended? Life isn't fair. Live with it.
the police would take a statement and decide but probably not if it your word against another. As for compensation, you werent injured so probably not
You guys are always tryin to get money for nothing, and you wonder why he did it. The answer is no, freedom of speech
From the comments of (freedom of speech ) i can tell your not from the UK, we gave that right away, as here you can be arrested for racist comments which may insight violence.
Yes you can.
That teacher who dared call you"student" to which you took so much offense should be hauled into the nearest pokey!
If you are offended, it must be racist, so let's stop people from saying anything to anybody or you can say.
"I'm telling!"
g-day!
No you wouldn't get compensation.
Yes if he`s or she is white, contact the PC brigade,they will be down on them like a ton of bricks especially if the are indigenous white .Go for it Brother, use the system. milk it, use the race card,but i guess you already do .
Unfortunately, yes. It only needs a denuciation from one (preferably ethnic) "witness with no corroboration required. I am assuming that you are white, if not, things might be easier.
nice little earner eh ? fat chance
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