Name: Chaplinsky vs. New Hampshire, "Fighting Words"

Date:  1926 - 1950

Location:  North America

SubjectOther

MediumPublic Speech


Artist: Chaplinsky

Confronting Bodies: State of New Hampshire

Date of Action: 1942

Specific Location: New Hampshire

Description of Artwork: Exchange of insults on the street.

Description of Incident: "Under NH.'s Offensive Conduct law (chap.378, para. 2 of the H.Public Laws) it is illega for anyone to address another person with "any offensive, derisive or annoying word to anyone who is lawfully in any street or public place.

Results of Incident: The case went to the Supreme Court which declared that the case did not fall under the category of "fighting words" and was not protected by the laws pertaining to free speech.

Source: the Encyclopedia of Censorship,J. Green, Facts on File, '93 pg.48

Submitted By: Erica Brown



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