Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito faced backlash Tuesday for joking about a boy in a Ku Klux Klan costume visiting a black Santa during a high-profile fight over free speech.
When the judge heard the case of a Christian graphic designer from Colorado who opposed designing wedding websites for same-sex couples, Alito proposed a hypothetical scenario in which a black boy dressed as Santa could refuse to be photographed with a dressed-up boy. said. KKK robe.
Colorado Solicitor General Eric Olson, who represented the state in a lawsuit against his law, said, “No,” because Ku Klux Klan clothing is not protected under public places laws.
Justice Elena Kagan chimed in, saying that Olson’s response was not based on the race of the child wearing the clothing.
In an awkward moment, Alito responded: “You see a lot of black kids in Ku Klux Klan uniforms, right? … Always.”
Earlier, Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson asked whether a photography store in the mall could refuse to take pictures of black people on Santa’s lap.
“Their policy is that only white children can take pictures with Santa that way, because that’s how they see the scenes they want to portray with Santa,” said Jackson, one of the court’s two black judges.
In the moment, Alito’s quip drew laughter from some in the courtroom, but it sparked a firestorm of criticism on Twitter.
“A joke about black kids in Ku Klux Klan outfits? “No, Justice Alito, these ‘jokes’ are so inappropriate that no matter how many idiots laugh their heads off in the courtroom,” he wrote.
Another user, Victor Shea, fumed: “How can anyone — especially Gen Z, who saw this court strike down abortion rights — take this court seriously with people like Alito and (Justice Clarence) Thomas?”
Another one reviewer, Charles CampisiCalled Alito’s remarks “outrageous, repugnant, outrageous and repugnant.”
Catherine Franke, a Columbia University law professor and director of the school’s Center for Gender and Sexuality Law, took Aliton to task for making off-color jokes in an important case that could have serious consequences for the LGBTQ community.
“Justice Alito Addresses KKK Jokes. Ha ha ha,” he tweeted. “As if what’s at stake here isn’t happening in a context where it’s ridiculous and LGBTQ people feel like we have a target on our backs. And, ahem – Klan jokes aren’t funny in any context.”
The Colorado case comes amid growing concern that the Supreme Court, which is controlled by a conservative majority, may overturn a decision declaring a nationwide right to same-sex marriage months after ending constitutional protections for abortion.
The White House is awaiting final passage in Congress of a bill protecting same-sex and interracial marriage.
With post wires
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