Saturday's letters: Offensive opinions shouldn't be silenced

David Gay's zealous support for police monitoring of so-called hate speech conveniently ignores substantial risks (“Smith should promote safe, inclusive public spaces,” Aug. 6). Expanding surveillance into the policing of lawful expression invites an Orwellian world where Big Brother undermines public confidence in the police, spreads fear, and leads to the erosion of democracy. Look no further than Britain, where police routinely harass, intimidate, and arrest citizens on trumped-up