Why Free Speech Matters

Please join us in Edinburgh on Thursday 21st April for a very special event to discuss, Why Free Speech Matters

Internationally renowned free speech advocate and author Jacob Mchangama will give a short lecture, introducing his highly acclaimed new book, Free Speech: A Global History from Socrates to Social Media. The evening will be hosted by Toby Young, general secretary of the Free Speech Union.

Toby and Jacob will be joined by Joanna Cherry QC and MP and Jamie Gillies, commentator and Free to Disagree campaigner, to discuss the importance of free speech and how it can be defended today. After the lecture and discussion, we will be unveiling some exciting news about the Free Speech Union’s activities in Scotland and what we’re intending to do to protect free speech in a nation where it’s becoming increasingly endangered.

THIS IS A SPECIAL EVENT FOR THE FREE SPEECH UNION AND GUESTS. DO FEEL FREE TO INVITE FRIENDS, BUT PLEASE DO NOT SHARE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

A wine reception will follow.

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Details

Date: Thursday 21st April 2022

Time: 7.30 – 9pm (please arrive by 7.15pm). Followed by wine reception

Venue: The Canongate Room, Radisson Blu Hotel, The Royal Mile, 80 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1TH

Tickets: FSU Members £5/£3. Non-FSU Members £10/£6.

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SPEAKERS

Lecturer: Jacob Mchangama

Jacob Mchangama is a lawyer, human rights advocate and former external lecturer in human rights at the University of Copenhagen. He is the founder and director of Justitia, a Copenhagen-based think tank focusing on human rights, freedom of speech, and the rule of law. His writings have appeared in a wide range of international outlets including The Economist, The Washington Post, Foreign Policy, Foreign Affairs, Politico, The Wall Street Journal Europe, El Pais, France24, Deutsche Welle, and Al Jazeera. His book builds on his podcast ‘Clear and Present Danger: A History of Free Speech’, which has reached an audience of over 220,000 unique listeners in more than 120 countries across the world.

Host: Toby Young

In addition to being the General Secretary of the Free Speech Union, Toby Young is an associate editor of the Spectator and the editor of the Daily Sceptic.

Panellist: Joanna Cherry QC and MP

Joanna was elected as Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South West in 2015 and re-elected in 2017. Before entering Parliament, Joanna had practiced as an Advocate for about 20 years and as a QC since 2009.

Panellist: Jamie Gillies

Jamie is a Scottish campaigner and political commentator. He was a leading critic of the SNP’s Hate Crime Bill, representing the Free to Disagree campaign.

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Praise for ‘Free Speech: A Global History from Socrates to Social Media’:

“Freedom of speech has emerged as a major issue of this decade, but most of the discussion consists of outrages over speech or the repression of speech. Missing is the intellectual background: What does free speech really mean? What is its history? How has it played out in world events? Why should we defend it? Jacob Mchangama lays out this context with deep erudition, strong writing, and a light touch.” – Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and the author of Enlightenment Now and Rationality

“Jacob Mchangama presents a compelling case for the unique, universal, enduring importance of free and equal speech for all people, regardless of their particular identities or ideologies. This fascinating account, of magisterial scope, demonstrates the constant liberating and equalizing force of free speech, throughout history and around the world. It also documents the constant censorial pressures, including many that reflect positive aims, and their inevitable suppression of full and equal human rights.” – Nadine Strossen, Former National President, American Civil Liberties Union