People in the USA still believe that racism/stereotypes are justified. I mean, after all… "black people really do commit all the crimes, drink liquor, have AIDS and live off welfare, right?"
hairsmystory.com

Well considering so many of us differ on what we perceive as racist, I don't think having racism cops would work. Many times I'm the lone voice on this blog saying I don't have a problem with something while others are totally up in arms.

And, how many of US would be arrested?

Are you serious? I need to move to the UK. Not because racism is a crime but because their crime rate is so low that they responded to and investigated this.

This may be in poor taste, but I wouldn't really call it a "hate crime." The Gypsy wasn't doing anything bad or illegal. She was selling stuff on the street, trying to make a living. If she was picking a pocket, a stereotype of Gypsies that is actually inherently negative, I could understand it if people were pissed. Seriously, pick up Vogue or turn on your TV. This is no more offensive than black and Hispanic people cleaning up after white folk. You might recall that December (or January's?) Italian Vogue had ONE minority in the whole damn thing and she's The Help.

too funny, Lauren!

i think the point is that a investigation happens. like, it's great that the cops took it seriously, and it's equally great that they deemed the charge unworthy of prosecution.

So you can´t in the US? It is a natural thing in most EU countries. I feel so sorry for the americans.

man, americans and their idiotic creation myth and the sanctity of the founding fathers and their holy constitution - freedom of speech, unconditional, means that sam hick and al redneck can say whatever the f* they wwant coz their constitution says so. anyone disagreeing with al and sams right to say whatever they want is insulting the great and best constitution of the world, is unpatriotic and might as well move to iran where speech is censored. lotsa words for little content, sorry. im just saying that one of amerocas great freedoms (like that to bear arms) is freedom of speech. and most of us believe in that shit.

The freedom to say what you like is finite! Try shouting 'FIRE!' at the cinema and see how long you stay free.

Freedom of speech is a concept not a fact, that freedom ends when you say something that pisses off the main culture or an important figure.
There are States that burning of the flag can get you jailed, in other States it's trumped-up, like "creating a fire hazard".
this fantasy of "Freedom of Speech" is really "Say anything you want, just don't say anything I don't like".

Germany has the strongest anti-discrimination laws, it trumps freedom of speech.