Written by: Gloria Kosir

Professor Samantha Barbas, who holds the Aliber Family Chair in Law, was recently featured in two publications discussing freedom of speech.

Barbas appeared in an episode of NPR’s Code Switch podcast titled “Freedom of speech has never been for everyone,” and spoke with the hosts about the progression of different speech protections under the First Amendment—including hate speech. She explained how the Civil Rights Movement and civil rights organizations “believe that hate speech laws would actually, in the long run, hurt minority groups more than help them.” 

Barbas’ research was also quoted in a Foreign Affairs article reviewing a different book about free speech. Her referenced work assesses various civil rights organizations’ impact on restrictions on hate speech and group defamation in the mid-20th century.  

Barbas is a renowned legal scholar, historian, and author on freedom of speech and First Amendment rights.