Former ACLU President, Nadine Strossen spoke at the SIU School of Law on Wednesday about the importance of freedom of speech.
Strossen says she has supported that freedom, even when the speech was not popular.
"People are always asking me, as a daughter of a Holocaust survivor, how can I possibly defend Nazis, and I always have to say, I am not defending the Nazis. I am defending the freedom of speech. A cherished and essential right."
Strossen's book is called Hate: Why We Should Resist it With Free Speech, Not Censorship.
Strossen says censorship of speech, even hate speech, is not a sufficient way to get people to stop using hate speech.
"Well intended as that censorship is, evidence has demonstrated in this country and in other countries, that censorship is at best ineffective and at worst counterproductive."
Strossen says the best way to fight hate speech, is by getting involved and using your voice against it.
Freedom of Speech Highlighted by Speaker at SIU Law School
