CAUSE AND EFFECT: ALEX HYDE

Hate speech has become a serious problem that is threatening the balance of modern society.
This notion has become very apparent recently after the start of the Israel-Gaza war. Widespread
antisemitic hate speech is being spread, leading to more crimes against Jewish people. The
consequence of spreading hate speech seems to routinely be criminal behavior, and in some cases
has led to the alienation and genocide of groups in society. One extremely prominent example of
this in history is the holocaust. The Nazi government spread hateful speech and indoctrinated a
whole society into believing the reason for their shortcomings was Jewish people, and this belief
led to the deaths of millions [1]. One study done by Cardiff university found that online hate
speech in certain geographies correlated to higher amounts of hate crimes being committed,
linking hate speech to increased violence [2]. Everyone has their biases about certain issues;
however, the use of hate speech seems to make these biases more apparent and outspoken,
therefore increasing criminal behavior and violence inspired by hateful beliefs. The consequence
of such hate speech needs to be address at a legislative level to reduce the promotion of hateful
ideology that also leads to hateful behavior.

Bibliography

[1] US Holocaust Memorial Musuem, "Nazi Propoganda and Censorship," Holocaust Encyclopedia, 15
January 2021. [Online]. Available: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/nazi-
propaganda-and-censorship.

[2] M. Williams, "Increase in online hate speech leads to more crimes against minorities," Cardiff
University , 15 October 2019. [Online]. Available: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/news/view/1702622-
increase-in-online-hate-speech-leads-to-more-crimes-against-minorities.