Many, in response to my Thread (twitter) of Sowore and why I believe his arrest was premature are saying Sowore went too far in his use of the word “RevolutionNow”.

But these folks are giving a basic English interpretation to the word. Words tend to have Legal meanings (and tests) away from its ordinary english meaning which have been well defined by common law. What is a Threat must be distinguished from what is constitutionally protected speech.

Home Opinion STILL ON SOWORE AND SSS – Perception versus Reality, by Charles Omole
Opinion
STILL ON SOWORE AND SSS – Perception versus Reality, by Charles Omole
written by Admin December 11, 2019
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Dr. Charles Omole

Many, in response to my Thread (twitter) of Sowore and why I believe his arrest was premature are saying Sowore went too far in his use of the word “RevolutionNow”.

But these folks are giving a basic English interpretation to the word. Words tend to have Legal meanings (and tests) away from its ordinary english meaning which have been well defined by common law. What is a Threat must be distinguished from what is constitutionally protected speech.

One of my Twitter Followers – eekabadcrane – captured this very well when he stated the Legal test based on a famous case:

In Watts v. United States (1969), the Supreme Court held that under the First Amendment only “True Threats” may be punishable.

The Court stated that alleged threats must be viewed in context, and noted that in the “political arena” in particular, language “is often vituperative, abusive, and inexact.” Thus, the Court further held that “political hyperbole” is not a true threat.

Sowore’s #RevolutionNow call appears to be a “political hyperbole” for protest against what he believes are the failings of the Muhammadu Buhari led govt.

The use of the word “revolution” and the context in which he used the word may have been an inexact way of referring to “protest” against his perceived failures of the government.

READ MORE: https://thebelltimesng.com/2019/12/11/still-on-sowore-and-sss-perception-versus-reality-by-charles-omole/