Forty-five percent of college students say violence can be justified to stop hate speech, poll finds

A Buckley Institute survey found that substantial shares of undergraduates support criminal penalties or physical force to stop speech they find offensive. The findings raise questions about students’ views on free expression and how colleges teach the role of the First Amendment.

In the survey, 40% said offensive speech should be subject to criminal prosecution, while 52% disagreed; support rose seven percentage points from the previous year. Forty-five per cent said violence could be justified to prevent hate speech or racially charged comments, matching the 2023 high and up from 30% in 2017. The poll also found that 42% said political comments they disagreed with could harm their mental health. It surveyed 803 full-time undergraduates under 25 at four-year US colleges in mid-September.