Eleven markers of content or speech that may expose members of the targeted group to hatred or contempt.
The hallmarks of hate were created by Canadian lawyer Richard Warman and outlined in a 2006 Canadian Human Rights Tribunal decision (Warman v. Kouba). The decision established eleven ‘hallmarks’, characteristics or tropes often used in hate speech and the concept has subsequently been used to successfully prosecute hate speech cases in Canada.
Hallmarks of hate:
- Targeted group is portrayed as powerful menace taking control of major institutions, depriving others of their livelihoods, safety, freedom of speech and general well-being;
- Messages use “true stories”, news reports, pictures, references from purportedly reputable sources to make negative generalizations about the targeted group;
- Targeted group is portrayed as preying upon children, the aged, the vulnerable, etc.;
- Targeted group is blamed for the current problems in society and the world;
- Targeted group is portrayed as dangerous or violent by nature;
- Messages convey idea that members of the targeted group are devoid of any redeeming qualities and are innately evil;
- Messages communicate idea that nothing but banishment, segregation or eradication of this group of people will save others from the harm being done by this group;
- Targeted group is de-humanized through comparisons to and associations with animals, vermin, excrement, and other noxious substances;
- Highly inflammatory and derogatory language is used in the messages to create a tone of extreme hatred and contempt;
- The messages trivialize or celebrate past persecution or tragedy involving members of the targeted group;
- Calls to take violent action against the targeted group.
Given the increase in harmful narratives concerning a number of targeted communities, designed to hide the underlying beliefs (ex. ‘protect children’, ‘concerned parents’), knowing how to identify these hallmarks can help challenge hateful rhetoric.
Source: http://mhgoldberg.com/blog/?p=1162
