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Student debate called off after violence fear (From The Northern Echo)
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Student debate called off after violence fear
8:36am Saturday 6th February 2010
A STUDENT debate featuring two BNP politicians has been cancelled amid fears of violence.
Durham Union Society (DUS) abandoned plans for a multiculturalism debate after urgent talks with police.
The Unite Against Fascism (UAF) group had vowed to stop the event, and DUS president Anna Birley said the National Union of Students (NUS) planned to send coachloads of students into Durham, putting them between the rival groups.
She said she was confident the debate would have been intelligent, responsible and an opportunity for students to challenge offensive views; and was disappointed the focus had become the threatened confrontation outside.
Simon Assas, from the UAF, called it a victory for common sense and for people who wanted to stand up against racism and fascism.
He said a Jewish student had reported a changed atmosphere on campus since the debate was announced.
However, a BNP spokesman said the enemies of free speech had won the day and that students would not like the “book-burners of the UAF dictating what they can and cannot listen to”.
Police said they did not ask for the debate to be cancelled.
Many students are angry it has been called off. A Facebook group called Durham University Students for Freedom of Speech quickly gained more than 1,900 members.
Co-founder Paul Nicholls called for a peaceful protest against what he said was the NUS betrayal of students outside the chamber on the day the debate would have been held.
NUS president Wes Streeting said the NUS believed there was no place on university campuses for the BNP; and that the idea the NUS, rather than the BNP, had caused a welfare and public order issue was preposterous.
University registrar Carolyn Fowler said the university was not prepared to provide an occasion for extremist groups to engage in provocative and intimidating demonstrations, and that it supported the DUS decision.
The debate was due to take place this Friday. Speakers were to be Kulveer Ranger, an advisor to Boris Johnson, Conservative MP Edward Leigh, BNP MEP Andrew Brons and Chris Beverley, a BNP councillor in Leeds.
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Your Say YourNorth-East
free speech fighter, Durham says...
12:38pm Sat 6 Feb 10
This country is a democracy.. yea right.
Whether or not people agree with policies, we should all be defending each individual's right to express an opinion.
Freedom of speech is severely under threat.
It's a slippery slope.
Being a supporter of the BNP, no matter how terrible some may consider this, is still a valid political stance. It is terrible that a group with seats in Europe etc, can still not be allowed to be heard, just because they don't go with the general flow of society.
The whole point of democracy is so that individuals may have their opinions heard; this is still an opinion.. and yet the message seems to be that it's "not allowed".
So how on earth can people be so hypocritical to still use the term democracy when we are slowly slipping further and further away.
This decision has angered many Durham students, and I am very very disappointed in the Durham Union for backing down.
Margaret Wilson, Peckham says...
12:42pm Sat 6 Feb 10
Elyssaen, Durham says...
3:34pm Sat 6 Feb 10
As for communist values, that I think makes even less sense. I can't think of anyone involved in this who identifies as communist.
Super steve, The land that labour ruined says...
3:43pm Sat 6 Feb 10
I have read the letter the NUS sent to Durham Uni SU. They clearly threaten Durham SU with violence of they dont cancel the event, then go on to imply if anyone gets hurt because of the violence they ioncite it will be the victims fault.
This Wes Streeting must be a complete moron or not in control of his thuggish deputies.
free speech fighter, Durham says...
3:44pm Sat 6 Feb 10
This has totally split the student body.
It's so ironic that to supposedly stop the fascists, the opposition become the very fascists themselves..
Elyssaen, Durham says...
3:58pm Sat 6 Feb 10
It is the sentiment expressed in said Facebook group that is the sentiment the Durham student body is united behind.
Being a Durham student myself, a member of said group and one of the 600+ students intending to protest the NUS's interference on Palace Green on Friday the 12th, I can confirm that over 95% of students I've spoken to have agreed with the group, and are anti-NUS on this.
As I said, I've never known Durham students to be more united.
BMD, Darlington says...
5:31pm Sat 6 Feb 10
I see you stated that you are a Durham Student, if I felt so strongly as yourself, about the NUS interference in the aborted debate, I would be asking for a vote of NO confidence in the NUS Presidents (Wes Streeting) position.
It is clear from his quoted statement in the above article; he is too opinionated and will not accept people may have different views.
cj-dog, co.durham says...
6:07pm Sat 6 Feb 10
Gone are the days when local youths used to knock ten bells out of Durham Uni students on a weekend because the snotty students acted like they owned the town.
A Uni who think they are elitists but who are best remembered for tolerating cheating in law exams.
I would have paid good money to watch as they gave each other a good kicking in the name of free speech and equality.
Super steve, The land that labour ruined says...
7:29pm Sat 6 Feb 10
This folks is the true face of extremmism in the UK, Not the somewhat misguided but peaceful and democratic, But the threatening and intimidating NSU/UAF/ANL with its proven record of thuggery.
*shakes head slowly*, Aycliffe says...
10:50pm Sat 6 Feb 10
LOLL!!!!
Edmondsley, Chester le Street says...
9:47am Sun 7 Feb 10
*shakes head slowly*, Aycliffe says...
12:37pm Sun 7 Feb 10
sarasara, says...
12:40pm Sun 7 Feb 10
*shakes head slowly*, Aycliffe says...
3:10pm Sun 7 Feb 10
Super steve, The land that labour ruined says...
5:19pm Sun 7 Feb 10
In the US the Jewish community have actually beeen cooperating with pro gun right lobbys and militia asctivists for a couple of years now. again because they fear the influx of extremist islam in some US cities.
Neccessity makes the strangest of bedfellows
wotmnisnttkn, Wigan, UK says...
6:10pm Sun 7 Feb 10
After all they are funded by you, the taxpayer on behalf of and to protect our leaders in Government.
Remember, it has always been like this. Violent students backed and protected Mussolini while he proscribed the future of his peoples of Europe under one jack-boot. So it cannot be all that bad!
ok-ok. They are not all students but they have to do 'something' for their (your) pay.
I want you to know the dire consequences of the BNP winning any debate. It must be stopped at all costs! People, are you with me?
Nick Scott, Durham says...
6:20pm Sun 7 Feb 10
Adam Walker, Spennymoor says...
6:49pm Sun 7 Feb 10
CTRILEY, SPENYMOOR says...
7:09pm Sun 7 Feb 10
wotmnisnttkn wrote:If they want an end support for the BNP they should do so by addressing the issues raised, they should be willing to openly debate with them, to challenge, disprove and discredit the BNP's claim through reasoned arguement, backed by real evidence.
I wish you people will go easy on the UAF. They are acting in your best interests. After all they are funded by you, the taxpayer on behalf of and to protect our leaders in Government. Remember, it has always been like this. Violent students backed and protected Mussolini while he proscribed the future of his peoples of Europe under one jack-boot. So it cannot be all that bad! ok-ok. They are not all students but they have to do 'something' for their (your) pay. I want you to know the dire consequences of the BNP winning any debate. It must be stopped at all costs! People, are you with me?
I didn't ask then to decide what's in my best interest. But when a self appointed group decide who has the right to speak and who has not, then they become the very thing they claim to be trying to stop.
remember Voltaire:
"I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it."
Whilst the the words of Pastor Martin Niemöller applies to all:
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me--
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
Mark Walker, Spennymoor says...
7:38pm Sun 7 Feb 10
The Durham Union Society had invited Yorkshire and North East Lincolnshire MEP Andrew Brons, and Leeds City Councillor Chris Beverley, to oppose the motion: “This house believes in a multicultural Britain” in the Debating Chamber on the Palace Green in Durham City.
But the Labour Party-funded UAF gang (above) vowed to stop the two British National Party politicians from taking part in the debate and after a series of threatening telephone calls to university staff, along with threats of a violent demonstration outside the venue, the Durham Union Society – one of the world’s oldest student debating societies – reluctantly pulled the plug on the event.
Not only was the news disappointing for Andrew Brons (left) and Chris Beverley, it was also a blow to Kulveer Ranger, an advisor to Boris Johnson, and the Conservative MP Edward Leigh who were due to propose the motion.
Anna Birley, the president of Durham Union Society, told the Northern Echo just two days ago:
“As president, I am responsible for promoting open debate, which means inviting people with opposing points of view.”
While Professor Chris Higgins, the vice-chancellor of Durham University, had backed the society’s stance:
“The university is a strong advocate of freedom of speech, we did not oppose the right of the Durham Union Society to invite British National Party representatives as long as they spoke as part of an open debate.”
But now the enemies of free speech have won the day and the students of Durham University have been denied the opportunity to listen to an important debate and challenge those taking part.
“Labour Party thugs might have won this battle but they are losing the war,” said a BNP spokesman when told of the cancellation.
“Students by their very nature have inquisitive minds and they won’t like the book-burners of the UAF dictating what they can and can not listen too.
“Such actions by Gordon Brown’s bankrupt band of followers only goes to raise the profile of the British National Party as well as helping us to recruit new members.”
Super steve, The land that labour ruined says...
7:57pm Sun 7 Feb 10
wotmnisnttkn wrote:The UAF formally the ANL are a discredited group of violent thugs blamed by the West Yorks police for inciting the race riots there a few years ago. They do not believe in democracy, freedom of speech OR the rule of law. Now they are trying tell tell the students at Durham what they can think and what they can debate. They choose violence threats and intimidation to get their way, yet the BNP choose debate and the ballot box as their tools of choice.
I wish you people will go easy on the UAF. They are acting in your best interests. After all they are funded by you, the taxpayer on behalf of and to protect our leaders in Government. Remember, it has always been like this. Violent students backed and protected Mussolini while he proscribed the future of his peoples of Europe under one jack-boot. So it cannot be all that bad! ok-ok. They are not all students but they have to do 'something' for their (your) pay. I want you to know the dire consequences of the BNP winning any debate. It must be stopped at all costs! People, are you with me?
So WHO is the greater evil?
Mark Walker, Spennymoor says...
8:10pm Sun 7 Feb 10
'Father forgive them, for they know not what they do'.
9988776655, Somewhere in County Durham says...
8:36am Mon 8 Feb 10
The NUS acts against its current members' best interests in several areas, including its stance on fees for future students - given the over-supply of graduates, surely the correct response would be to increase fees and/or decrease places.
Pete Winstanley, Durham says...
10:40am Mon 8 Feb 10
As Britain debates the BNP's appearance on Question Time, it would be a good idea to learn from developments elsewhere, before it's too late. Here in Denmark, where I have lived for 30 years, we have witnessed the systematic hijacking of a progressive and tolerant culture by the far right dressed in "respectable" sheep's clothing. In 10 years, Denmark has been transformed into a country where racism has become mainstream.
Free speech has protected hate speech, and opponents of censorship have consistently defended the rights of unscrupulous populists and incendiarists. When the media take this line, a very wicked circle is started: the inflammatory accusations of racists become self-fulfilling prophecies, as minorities are increasingly marginalised and excluded. Mainstream political parties, attempting to win back voters from the extreme right, make an endless series of concessions, attempting in vain to demonstrate understanding of the concerns of voters tempted by simple xenophobic policies. But the far right will always have a more extreme policy, and a new provocative proposal, which keeps them permanently centre stage in the media.
The "debate" about immigration – in reality a platform for populist racism – dominates politics, poisons serious dialogue, and guarantees only one thing: racist dominance of the media and the political agenda.
Richard Reynish Copenhagen, Denmark
Adam Walker, Spennymoor says...
11:32am Mon 8 Feb 10
sarasara, says...
12:32pm Mon 8 Feb 10
Super steve wrote:The fact is that the current Conlablibedem one Party State is delegitimizing Israel and refusing to back her at the UN. The BNP Israel policy is brilliant and clear, it creates no tension with Jerusalem and rather it brings certaintity and confidence in relations between the UK and Israel. The BNP as a Nationalist party respects a fellow nationalist state and affirms the principle that that state must use every means to secure her borders and immigration. Griffin was the only Western leader to deplore criticism of Israel during Gaza saying that she had "Every right to do everything she needed to do to fight terrorists."
SHS, dont laugh I'm pretty sure there was an article in the London Evening Standard or similar, recently about many jewish folks either joining or talking about joining the BNP because they as British Jews are becoming ever more fearful of the rise of Islam in the UK. In the US the Jewish community have actually beeen cooperating with pro gun right lobbys and militia asctivists for a couple of years now. again because they fear the influx of extremist islam in some US cities. Neccessity makes the strangest of bedfellows
We have also seen a huge rise of anti-Semitism under labour with marxist education authorities not teaching the Holocaust for fear of offending muslims and the rise of so-called 'anti-Zionism' which is merely the new anti-Semitism. Most members of the UAF, Hope Not Hate, antifa and others support Hamas and Hezbollah who want to wipe Israel and Israeli Jews off the map.
http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=aNRLMFnc1
pI
*shakes head slowly*, Aycliffe says...
8:10pm Mon 8 Feb 10
I see you get your religous and educational information from long debunked emails!!!!! LOLL!!!!!
This is a %100 total and utter lie and easily checked by visiting stopes.com or any of the myth busting websites out there.
1. You're no jew
2. You're a liar
3. Tou're a liar again, nyaaaahhhh!!!!
LOLLL!!!!!!!!
CTRILEY, SPENYMOOR says...
11:31pm Mon 8 Feb 10
*shakes head slowly* wrote:You should also add that because of the 1993 film Schindler's List there was a dramatic drop in anti-Semitism as people sympathises with the Jewish people. So much so that it led to the creation of the Holocaust Memorial Day.
"We have also seen a huge rise of anti-Semitism under labour with marxist education authorities not teaching the Holocaust for fear of offending muslims" I see you get your religous and educational information from long debunked emails!!!!! LOLL!!!!! This is a %100 total and utter lie and easily checked by visiting stopes.com or any of the myth busting websites out there. 1. You're no jew 2. You're a liar 3. Tou're a liar again, nyaaaahhhh!!!! LOLLL!!!!!!!!
But attitudes towards the Jews began to change prior to, during and after the first memorial day (27 Jan 2001) Isreal was bull dozing people's homes, as part of its policy of ethnic cleansing which also helped make way for illegal settlement's.
On the 11th of September that same year the Twin Towers were attacked and destroyed, which dragged the rest of the world into the Middle Eastern conflict.
All of which has been exploited by extremists for their own purposes.
tally_er, Durham says...
2:53pm Tue 9 Feb 10
"I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend to the death your right to say it."
Whilst the the words of Pastor Martin Niemöller applies to all:
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a socialist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me--
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
Let me add a verse...
Then they came for the BNP, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not English
Pete Winstanley, Durham says...
4:11pm Tue 9 Feb 10
I denounce the BNP because I am English, and proud to be English. The BNP would abolish everything that is good about England.
Adam Walker, Spennymoor says...
6:10pm Tue 9 Feb 10
Pete Winstanley, Durham says...
7:04pm Tue 9 Feb 10
Pete Winstanley, Durham says...
7:23pm Tue 9 Feb 10
simmo3578, newton aycliffe says...
7:49pm Tue 9 Feb 10
Colin Wood, Darlington says...
8:27pm Tue 9 Feb 10
Colin Wood, Darlington says...
8:42pm Tue 9 Feb 10
esstreeting
Pete Winstanley, Durham says...
10:44pm Tue 9 Feb 10
On second thoughts, I’m seriously bored now. Off to bed. Talk amongst yourselves.
Mark Walker, Spennymoor says...
10:56pm Tue 9 Feb 10
What a guy!
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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BMD, Darlington says...
9:22am Sat 6 Feb 10
The Unite Against Fascism have conducted themselves as a RENT-A-MOB, would they have announced there intentions at a Mosque that was preaching racial hatred?