Re: “They helped women fight online abuse. They were barred from the U.S.” (Feb. 26, Business):
The United States has laws against hurting people. Even when it comes to what you say to another.
You can’t yell fire in a theater is the oft cited example. If you harass a person by repeatedly calling them names, it is called harassment. You can ask for a restraining order against that person so you can regain your peace of mind. Slandering someone’s name is also against the law. These sorts of cases are brought to court every day around the country.
This sort of activity is happening every day around this country (and the world) online. The difference is that most if not almost all get away with it. The HateAid article brought all of this into sharp relief, exposing that this kind of activity needs to stop and be prosecuted. Let me repeat, this is happening every day.
HateAid is an organization that is successfully thwarting this horrible widespread crime on social media. And let me repeat, it is a crime. I applaud their actions, their perseverance and spunk. We need more of this in America. It is so much worse here and it is perpetrated by some of those who have the most power.
Janna Wachter, Seattle
