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Hmmm... This Free Speech Champions program looks remarkably similar to the Free Speech is For Me project and I devised and launched when at Index on Censorship. 1/ https://twitter.com/archiebland/status/1347803580271632385
That program was specifically designed to encourage young people to discuss the value of free speech as a universal principle and to counter the prevailing narrative that free speech was just a cover for advocating only hateful views. 2/
I am furious. The co-opting of ‘free speech’ as a mantra by the likes of Young has done untold damage to the ability of actual free speech advocates to explain and defend the value of free expression and opened the door to increased silencing of views on all sides. 3/
Feedback from our first cohort of Free Speech is For Me advocates was brilliant. People from different sides of the political spectrum were able to discuss and debate in a way in which they were treated with respect and in which they could test and question each other’s views. 4/
This was the way we described the program: “Free speech has been critical to social movements throughout history. It has consistently been used as a powerful tool for marginalised groups to articulate their grievances and demand to be heard” 5/
“But today discussions surrounding “free speech” have unfortunately been dominated by a small number of people who seek to use it primarily to curtail the rights of others and spread hate, leading many to question it as a value.” 6/
“However, when the principle of free speech is abandoned, those who already face oppression are hurt most: including people of colour, religious and ethnic minorities, and those who campaign on sex and gender issues.” 6/
“Free Speech is for Me aims to show how freedom of expression furthers democracy and individual liberty and benefits everyone. If we allow free speech protections to be weakened, we lose our greatest tool in advocating for change.”
I mean I don’t think it could be clearer we were trying to challenge the narrative on free speech that Young et al have poisoned. This is massively damaging. Here ends the rant. I am going for a walk. 7/7
