Evelyn Rae: The Right to be Offended

Pre-Crime and Thought Policing Are Less Science Fiction and More Fact

Authorities in Australia are following the United Kingdom’s lead by focusing on the policing of so-called “hate crimes”—and worse, “hate incidents.” The move arguably represents a fundamental shift in how the law understands rights, responsibility, and the role of the state.

Criminal law has historically protected objective rights, such as the right to l…