FREE SPEECH AFTER THE RIOTS
Wednesday 4th September, 7.30pm
ONLINE: Link will be provided to FSU members in exclusive emails.
The shocking murders of three young girls and injuring of many others in the northern town of Southport prompted anti-immigrant protests around the country, many of which descended into riots. In response, the government made clear that it would crackdown not just on individuals actively involved in public disorder but also on those who speculated online about the identity of the murderer and others who posted opinions about the crime and the riots. Sir Keir Starmer blamed ‘misinformation’ and ‘disinformation’ on social media for whipping up violence and urged the authorities to prosecute people for saying supposedly inflammatory things online.
Stephen Parkinson, the Director of Public Prosecutions, even warned that people sharing footage of the riots online may be prosecuted. “People might think they’re not doing anything harmful, they are, and the consequences will be visited upon them,” he said.
As a result, a man has been sent to jail for 18 months for sharing something “offensive” that someone else said on Facebook, another man was sent down for three years for posting “anti-Establishment rhetoric” and a third man was jailed for 18 months for chanting “Who the f*** is Allah?”.
The government’s disturbingly authoritarian reaction further blurred the distinction between speech and action, words and violence, and prompted thousands in the UK to join the Free Speech Union to help us defend free expression and to protect themselves from possible legal action.
On Wednesday 4th September, we are bringing together an emergency panel of speakers to discuss the issues. General Secretary of the Free Speech Union, Toby Young will be joined by Mark Johnson of free speech and privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch, Tom Slater of online magazine Spiked and barrister George Thomas, an expert in the policing of public order.
Join the event online and you can put your questions to the panel. Register using the link that will be emailed to FSU members over the coming week.
We will also publish a video of the event.
Toby Young
Toby Young is the General Secretary of the Free Speech Union, a non-partisan, mass membership public interest body that stands up for the speech rights of its members. He co-founded four schools and a multi-academy trust in West London, served as a Fulbright Commissioner and is the author of four books, the best known of which is How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2001). He is an associate editor of the Spectator, where he’s written a weekly column since 1998, and Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Sceptic.
Tom Slater
Tom is the editor of Spiked, the online magazine that is one of the most consistent defenders of free speech. He also writes regularly for the Spectator; he has written for the Sun, the Telegraph and The Sunday Times; and he appears regularly on TV and radio. Tom is also co-host of the Spiked podcast, a weekly round-up of news and controversy, and Last Orders, a podcast all about freedom and the nanny state.
Mark Johnson
Mark is the Advocacy Manager for Big Brother Watch, the UK civil liberties and privacy campaigning organisation. He has long been an advocate for civil liberties and democracy and has worked in parliament, party politics, and public affairs. Mark was previously a Parliamentary Assistant where he worked on domestic and international human rights issues including opposition to the death penalty and freedom of religion.
George Thomas
George is a barrister immensely experienced in police law, having worked in the field for over twenty years. He is regularly instructed in civil actions against the police, judicial review, inquests and disciplinary proceedings. He provides in-depth and ongoing legal advice to a number of constabularies on both operational and organisational matters, including collaboration agreements and major public order events. He has a particular interest – and almost unrivalled experience and expertise – in public order policing, from anti-fracking protests to Friday night punch-ups.
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