Letter: Abuse of free speech

Mr Paul Foot,Others
Tuesday 12 April 1994 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Sir: You print a letter (4 April) from someone calling himself the press officer of the British National Party. He assures your readers that his party is out to champion the local community in the East End of London.

If a party that you knew advocated the right of men to rape women at will or the right of strong people to maim weak people at random wrote to you protesting that its main concern was to improve community facilities, you would, we think, not publish the letter. Why then did you publish the BNP letter? The normal rules of free speech and expression cannot possibly apply to those who aim to deny the most basic rights and freedoms to entire sections of the population.

Yours,

PAUL FOOT, VICTORIA BRITTAIN, STEVE PLATT, MIKE ROSEN, JOHN REES, SEUMAS MILNE

Media Workers Against the Nazis

London, E3

8 April

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in