Some speech deserves to be marginalised

says my good buddy Russell Blackford on his blog. Check it out.

Oxford University's eggheads and freedom of speech

Not to be outdone by the ACLU Oxford University's student run Debating Society has invited two fascists to speak during a free speech event at Oxford University tomorrow.
Nick Griffin, leader of the British National Party, was convicted by UK courts for materials inciting racial hatred for producing materials denying the holocaust.
Similarly, David Irving, a discredited historian who was sentenced to three years in jail by Austrian courts for his holocaust denials.
The argument seems to be that an event debating the question of freedom of speech has to rely on fascists' contributions in order to be suitably credible. In fact, dear Oxford Debating Society why not also invite a couple of pedophiles feeling violated in their freedom of speech, because they're unable to advertise child sex brothels in Asia and elsewhere? Or a representative of the KKK who is upset about limitations in his (usually his) freedom of speech, because he is unable to rave about getting rid of all African Americans? Surely there is an infinite number of lunatics out there that could valuably contribute to your important debate...
What these students have clearly missed is that a debate about reasonable limits (or none) on freedom of speech can be had without inviting Griffin and Irving or similarly shady character, and without violating these characters' right to express themselves. After all, it is not their entitlement or legal right to be invited by the Debating Society to express their views. They can simply go to Hyde Park's Speakers' Corner and rave about ethnic minorities, gays and the EU - in the rain.
This is why Trevor Phillips, chair person of the UK's Commission for Equalities and Human Rights is right when he said, 'this is not a question of freedom of speech, this is a juvenile provocation.'

BNP leader prevented from speaking at Bath University

The Guardian reports today that Mr Griffin, leader of the fascist British National Party, was refused the opportunity to speak at Bath University after all.

Fascist leader to speak at Bath University

Nick Griffin, leader of the fascist British National Party (BNP) is bound to deliver a public lecture at Bath University. Here's a statement from student and trade unions on the campus:

JOINT STATEMENT FROM BATH TRADE UNIONS
Fascism has no place in academic institutions

'Universities should be havens of learning and safety for students,
academics and staff from all backgrounds. We oppose the Secretary of the
University of Bath's decision to allow Nick Griffin, leader of the
fascist British National Party to speak on campus.

Griffin is due to give a lecture at the University of Bath on 14 May at
7pm, at the request of one student.

The BNP is no ordinary political party: it poses a danger to students
and staff alike. Griffin is a former member of the openly fascist
National Front, and has a conviction for distributing literature likely
to incite racial hatred, which denied the reality of the Nazi Holocaust.
The BNP wants an "all-white Britain", which could only be possible
through violence and an end to democracy. It has links with fascist
groups across the world. Many of its leading members have convictions
for violence and have been exposed as Hitler admirers. Wherever the BNP
is active, racist attacks and other hate crimes increase.

The BNP's racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, Islamophobic politics
threatens the safety of Black, Jewish, Muslim, lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender students and academics and many others. These views, if
given further legitimacy, provide the framework for physical attacks on
a number of groups.

It is unacceptable to expose students and staff at the University to the
possibility of such attacks and to give a platform of academic
respectability to the BNP by allowing Nick Griffin to give a lecture at
the University.

The BNP has targeted campuses up and down the country, attempting to
recruit students and young people to fascism. Allowing Nick Griffin a
platform at University of Bath will aid the BNP's aim to infiltrate
academic institutions further.

Universities have a legal obligation to promote good race relations
under the 2000 Race Relations (Amendment) Act, brought in as a direct
result of the 1998 Lawrence Inquiry, following the racist murder of
Stephen Lawrence. We believe that this invitation runs contradictory to
the letter and spirit of this legislation. The University of Bath has a
legal and moral obligation to promote good race relations and to work
against discrimination. We believe that it is failing to live up to this
obligation.

We the undersigned call on the University of Bath to withdraw its
invitation to Griffin to speak. We call on all in our community to stand
with us.'