“Without free speech, eventually we will all lose”: This quote is from the public letter to the Police Minister of Aotearoa New Zealand from The Free Speech Union.
Scenes of intimidation and silencing of debate, the censure of speaking and of listening, do not seem to belong to a mature and confident liberal democracy.
The democracy that has been so hard for us to achieve throughout the difficult millenniums of human history is the child of debate, of communication, and of compromise.
It is precious and has never spontaneously arisen nor been effortlessly gifted to us.
I have further quoted from the Free Speech Union’s letter below. You can read the full letter and sign your name, if you so wish, here
“Without the right to peacefully gather and express beliefs and opinions, controversial or condemnable though some may consider them to be, free speech is no longer protected in New Zealand. Free speech guarantees the right to both express perspectives and views, and also to hear others perspectives and views.
“The Police have failed in their duty to protect these foundational rights.
“If you take free speech off the table, as it seems Police allowed to happen on Saturday, the contested opinions and beliefs don’t simply go away. However, the ability to express them peacefully is undone. This leaves only far more extreme forms of expression on the table. We are concerned for the tenor of public debate, and the potential for this to produce violence.
“We believe in tolerance. Without free speech, eventually we will all lose.
“We call on you, and the Police Commissioner, to acknowledge the lack of action to defend the basic speech rights of those who turned up to the ‘Let Women Speak’ rally, and reassert that those who express unpopular or controversial views in public are entirely in their right, and deserve to be protected from threats, intimidation, and violence.”
Link to the Free Speech Union Public Letter Here
Renwulf Author: Tamara Rendell
With support of Natasha Rendell and Ramon William Ravenswood
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Renwulf Author: Tamara Rendell
Tamara Rendell is the author of the mythological / historical fiction novels Realm of the Stag King and Realm of the Witch Queen and her poetry and stories collection Mystical Tides.
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