The law bans the sale of Confederate flags, swastikas and other so-called hate symbols \u2013 a restriction that would require the government to determine what speech is hateful.<\/p>\n
Announcing the bill on Tuesday, the governor argued that the legislation will \u201csafeguard New Yorkers from the fear-instilling effects of these abhorrent symbols\u201d<\/em> at state fairgrounds and other government properties. However, he added that \u201ccertain technical changes\u201d<\/em> will be needed to avoid infringing free-speech rights.<\/p>\n \u201cThis country faces a pervasive, growing attitude of intolerance and hate \u2013 what I have referred to in the body politic as an American cancer,\u201d<\/em> Cuomo said.<\/p>\n READ MORE:\u00a0San Francisco looks to rename 44 schools, expunging the likes of Washington, Lincoln and even FEINSTEIN for their impurities<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Since Cuomo signed the legislation, which went into effect immediately, critics have roasted the governor for \u201cvirtue signaling\u201d<\/em> with a law that conflicts with free-speech rights.<\/p>\n \u201cMost of us find these symbols offensive, but the First Amendment is not designed to protect popular speech,\u201d<\/em> law professor Jonathan Turley tweeted on Wednesday.<\/p>\n Journalist Robby Soave agreed, and pointed out that Cuomo had admitted the bill\u2019s constitutional shortcomings even as he signed it.<\/p>\n The move comes just weeks after the Supreme Court struck down<\/a> Cuomo\u2019s Covid-19 capacity limits on houses of worship on November 26, saying the state order violated religious freedoms. \u201cEven in a pandemic, the Constitution cannot be put away and forgotten,\u201d<\/em> the majority decision said.<\/p>\n Washington Examiner columnist Brad Polumbo argued<\/a> Cuomo was trampling on the First Amendment with the hate-symbol law. \u201cThis is a blatant violation of free speech in the name of woke racial progress,\u201d<\/em> he wrote.<\/p>\n National Review\u2019s David Harsanyi agreed, saying neither Cuomo nor state lawmakers are allowed to decide what constitutes hate speech, let alone ban it.<\/p>\n With that tendency in mind, Manhattan GOP chairwoman Andrea Catsimatidis said the hate-symbol law would create a dangerous precedent. \u201cI personally would not buy a Confederate flag,\u201d<\/em> she said. \u201cHowever, banning such items is a slippery slope. What\u2019s next? Are they going to ban MAGA hats from New York?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Governor Cuomo just signed a bill banning the sale of Confederate flags in New York. I personally would not buy a Confederate flag, however, banning such items is a slippery slope. What\u2019s next? Are they going to ban MAGA hats from New York?<\/p>\n \u2014 Andrea Catsimatidis (@AJ_Cats_) December 16, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n But other observers argued that outlawing the sale of such symbols on public land isn\u2019t a total ban. One Twitter commenter suggested that the US should follow Germany in banning hateful symbols.<\/p>\n Banning these sales on “public” land makes sense to me. It’s not a total ban, unfortunately in my opinion.<\/p>\n \u2014 D Hoenes (@golferdawn) December 16, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Well…consider that Germany doesn’t allow any NAZI parafenalia or promotion……its time for the USA to do the same with slavery and the co federate flag and I am a southerner<\/p>\n
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\n Michigan inn owners remove Norwegian flag after taking flak from folk mistaking it for Confederacy banner<\/span>
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