In the context of the Donald Sterling’s racist remarks, it is important to remember that all people have rights–even those who are bigoted and offensive. If we silence bigots, we would also be silencing political dissenters – and destroying free speech.
There is precedent for rich people losing their property rights if they express views which are perceived as bigoted. Sports leagues have suspended owners from management for making racist comments before, like former Cincinnati Reds owner Marge Scott. Powerful figures outside sports have also lost positions of privilege because of their views. Former Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich was essentially forced to resign after the public discovered he had donated money to support California’s Proposition Eight, the initiative which would have restricted marriage in California to a man and a woman.
Public Censorship
Donald Sterling is a relic of the past–which is to say, he is an easy target to mark as bigoted. Sterling is a rich white man who allegedly discriminated against black children by denying them housing, but who is willing to profit from black labor on basketball courts. Sterling is a cranky old man who doesn’t want to be associated with black people, but who is perfectly fine with rumors that he is having an affair with a partly black woman.
But that doesn’t mean the NBA should try to discipline him. Sterling still has the right to express himself, especially in a private conversation. Sterling would hire a wall of lawyers if the NBA took any action, and that would force the courts to intervene. Let me be clear: judges cannot approve suspension of Sterling’s property rights merely because of offensive and ignorant things he said privately to his mistress.
Yes, Sterling is a noxious racist who was accused of violating the Fair Housing Act by denying black children housing. During that case though, Sterling had violated a federal statute and there was no free speech defense. In this week’s scandal, Sterling was making private comments. We cannot take away people’s rights merely because we don’t like what they say. Those comments may end up hurting the Clippers and the NBA, but a lifetime ban and a $2.5 million fine will have to suffice.
On the other hand, if the economic consequences hurt the NBA, doesn’t the NBA have the power to boot Sterling since Sterling’s behavior will in turn hurt the NBA? The same applies to Brendan Eich. If people boycotted Firefox because of Eich’s support for Proposition 8, wouldn’t Mozilla be justified in terminating a CEO who was causing them to lose business?
The difference is that the government cannot be involved in anyway. The Mozilla firing is partly justified because the board of directors could take action without any government oversight. The forced Clippers sale will result in eventual court oversight. No part of the government, including the courts, can strip Sterling of his free speech rights, no matter how repulsive he is. The NBA needs to find a way to address the scandal without the power of the government.