What does this paragraph mean ?

Question

"Everyone concerned with these issues must find ways to engage actively in actions that resist and counter the racist ideas that we would have the First Amendament protect. If we fail in this, this victims of hate speech must rightly asume that we are on the oprresors's side"

Excerpt from LAWRENCE, CHARLES R.. III, "IF HE HOLLERS LET HIM GO: REGULATING RACIST SPEECH ON CAMPUS. "1990 Duke L.J. 431 (1990).
I intend to write an argrument on this one, but I don't understand much about it

I very much appreciate any help.

*********** IF U DON"T WANT TO HELP, PLEASE DON"T MAKE ANY REMARK ***********

Answer 1

"The first amendment prevents the government from restricting free speech. When speech is racist, however, everyone concerned with racism must actively work against a defense that such racist speech has constitutional protection. If we fail to deny first amendment protection to racist speech, the people who are the object of such speech will rightly assume that by failing to effectively fight racist speech we are on the side of those uttering racist speech, who are oppressors."

These comments refer to racist speech ON CAMPUS, which is a special environment for free speech.

Answer 2

It says that, according to Charles R. III,we must work against racist ideas, since the First Amendment protects the right to express racist ideas. If we don't work against racist ideas, then victims of hate speech must believe that we agree with the racists.

Or, more simply, while we can't stop racist speech, we have to fight against racist ideas.

Answer 3

Well first, you should clarify what "issues" this is in regards to.
And second it sounds like if something has to be done about racism/hate speech, regardless that the first amendment claims we have the right to express any racist/hateful thoughts. If we fail to fight it, we are just as guilty as the ones who are expressing it (in the victims eyes)

Answer 4

The paragraph suggests that to fight issues of racism effectively we must fight aggressively against giving racists their full first amendment rights: that because even racists have the right to free speech, we can't allow this to protect or serve racism.

If we don't then we are giving credence to the racists by supporting their freedom to free speech.

That's how I see it.

Answer 5

It is simply a statement of not allowing first amendment freedom of speech to excuse the public expression of racist ideas. If we do not take action against these expressions we are passively agreeing by not making our disagreement known.