31 Months for Tweets: Is Online Hate Speech Worse Than Physical Violence?

A woman named Lucy Connolly was sentenced to 31 months in prison for sending anti-Islamic tweets. This sparked a debate on LBC radio, where presenter Nick Ferrari discussed the case with another presenter. Ferrari described the tweets as "vile," but questioned the length of the sentence, especially when compared to the 28-month sentence given to a man who physically attacked police officers. The discussion highlights the ongoing debate about the appropriate punishment for online hate speech versus physical violence. One presenter argued that "thought is more punishable than deed now." This case raises questions about the proportionality of sentences for different types of offenses and the challenges of regulating online hate speech.