An Idaho man named Ralph Ginorio spoke out against the Coeur d’Alene city council’s “measuring objective behavior” after approving a new hate crime ordinance, introducing a significant addition to the municipal code.
The law was described as “draconian” by the Idaho Tribune, which argued it “will basically make it illegal to think the wrong way.”
“If found guilty, you’ll be sentenced to ‘[re]education.'”
“Dear North Idaho, you just lost your 1st Amendment right to Free Speech,” the Tribune added.
Here is Coeur d’Alene’s DRACONIAN new “Hate Crimes” ordinance, that will basically make it illegal to think the wrong way.
— Idaho Tribune (@IdahoTribune) July 3, 2024
If found guilty, you’ll be sentenced to “[re]education.”
Dear North Idaho, you just lost your 1st Amendment right to Free Speech.#idleg #idpol pic.twitter.com/fl45eakOPp
Krem2 explained the chapter specifies that a separate offense will be created “if a person commits a current offense, such as malicious injury to property and disorderly conduct, because of the victim’s actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or national origin.”
On Tuesday, City Attorney Randall Adams stressed that the ordinance aims to make visitors feel welcome following incidents that tarnished the city’s reputation.
“We want people to feel safe here, and people said they did not feel safe in Coeur d’Alene, so we wanted to do something to show that we took this seriously,” Adams stated.
This is the same group of people who brought you the Hate-Hoax a few months ago.https://t.co/yojrM9RAkN
— Idaho Tribune (@IdahoTribune) July 3, 2024
Those who violate the new code “shall be guilty of a misdemeanor” and face penalties, including “any punishment for conviction of the underlying crime.”
If found guilty, they will be ineligible for any City license, permit, or activity for up to three years.
The ordinance came following two racial harassment incidents in Coeur d’Alene this year.
According to one report, members of the University of Utah women’s basketball team allegedly endured racial abuse when a truck displaying a Confederate flag hurled racial slurs at them.
Laster, a group of Tribal School students also suffered racial harassment in McEuen Park two months later.
Ginorio spoke out against the city council on Tuesday
“[This] is not something I think any of us have the capacity to do,” Ginorio said.
He then said he knows “firsthand the ravages of racism” because his family has split over his father’s Cuban-Puerto Rican heritage, a point that mattered “at the time” while growing up in New York City.
“I’ll stand with anyone who wants to punish bigoted action,” he continued.
“But to constrain speech is to take on a role you weren’t elected for.”
“And with all due respect, this community can forgive and forget the good intentions of you as you go about your righteous business of deciding zoning issues and city policies.”
“This community will not long forget you crossing a line and deciding what is and what is not acceptable speech and thought.”
Ginorio added in an article with Coeur d’Alene Press that city leaders are “overreacting” to the recent racial incidents.
“Restricting free speech will not end bigotry,” Ginorio penned.
“Free speech is indispensable for the preservation of liberty. It exists to protect the expression of everyone; even racists, sexists, homophobes, Satanists, Klansmen, Communists, anarchists, Islamists, and any other iteration of cringe, fringe, conspiracy cultist.”
“Free speech exists to allow any one of us to express our convictions, no matter how offensive and even bizarre they may be. If extremists do not have free speech, then none of us do,” Ginorio continued.
