Local leaders look to shut down hate speech after anti-Islam speaker visits again (ND)

By Sarah Volpenhein
Today at 12:00 a.m.

... "The impact of hate economically can be huge," said Norm Gissel, a social justice advocate.

He pointed to how property values soared after the Idaho compound of the Aryan Nations, a white supremacist, neo-Nazi organization, was razed after the group went bankrupt and closed because of a $6.3 million civil judgment against it ...

Barry Wilfahrt, president of Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce, agreed, pointing to a 2010 Gallup poll that found what makes people stay in their city is social offerings, openness and aesthetics.

One of the questions batted about at the meeting was what to ask of the Empire's board of directors at their meeting next Wednesday. The Empire has hosted Dakdok both times he visited Grand Forks in March and earlier this week, with Empire Director Emily Montgomery saying she and the Empire's board of directors strongly felt they should not censor someone's right to free speech, regardless of board members' personal beliefs ...

http://www.grandforksherald.com/news/local/3832945-local-leaders-look-shut-down-hate-speech-after-anti-islam-speaker-visits-again