The Free Speech Union has addressed the following letter to the Minister of Police. I urge readers of this blog to follow the link and sign it, and to consider donating to the FSU as well. Its work has never been more important.
Public Letter to Police Minister
Dear Minister,
At the ‘Let Women Speak’ rally on Saturday in Auckland’s Albert Park, Police claimed regarding women’s right activist, Posie Parker, that "she is in a public space. If she feels unsafe she needs to leave." Regardless of our views on Parker’s claim, this is an abject failure of the Police to do their job; defending the basic liberties of those in New Zealand, including free speech.
The counter-protest on Saturday used the ‘Thug’s Veto’ to silence opponents, not through debate or reason, but through manifest intimidation.
Without the right to peacefully gather and express beliefs and opinions, controversial or condemnable though some may consider them to be, free speech is no longer protected in New Zealand. Free speech guarantees the right to both express perspectives and views, and also to hear others perspectives and views.
The Police have failed in their duty to protect these foundational rights.
If you take free speech off the table, as it seems Police allowed to happen on Saturday, the contested opinions and beliefs don’t simply go away. However, the ability to express them peacefully is undone. This leaves on far more extreme forms of expression on the table. We are concerned for the tenure of public debate, and the potential for this to produce violence.
We believe in tolerance. Without free speech, eventually we will all lose.
We call on you, and the Police Commissioner, to acknowledge the lack of action to defend the basic speech rights of those who turned up to the ‘Let Women Speak’ rally, and reassert that those who express unpopular or controversial views in public are entirely in their right, and deserve to be protected from threats, intimidation, and violence.
Signed:
Sign here: http://www.fsu.nz/public_letter_to_police_minister?recruiter_id=374
12 comments:
Done and distributed.
Signed.
Would have preferred a call for the resignation of both Minister and Commissioner to be included because of the negating of New Zealand law by those under their charge.
Phil Blackwell
Thanks, Karl. Yes - I have already done so.
I have also replied to Dr Cumin that Police Commissioner Andrew Coster must be sued for dereliction of duty. He kept his police from guarding her physically. With a different turn of events she might have been killed!!! How many of us really comprehend that.
She had been granted visa to speak at a public event - our police were duty-bound to protect her safety. Like the Australian Police did.
Andrew Coster must go.
I have just now signed the letter and made a donation.
This appalling display of unchecked mob rule and attack and physical assault in the presence of Police who allowed it to go ahead is a shocking indictment on our nation.
Marama Davidson's racist, sexist, pro violence, anti male rant in favour of the mob can be seen on facebook.
Clearly we are at a crisis point in New Zealand, because we see clearly that the mob can rule, and the Police are impotent.
And another thing: was the person who poured tomato soup (or whatever it was) over Posie Parker arrested? If not,why not? It was a clear case of assault witnessed by everyone who saw it on the TV news. Where were the cops? If I were a police officer, I'd feel deeply ashamed.
No arrests were made (according to Stuff)
The perpetrator of the pouring tomato juice has been identified and named publicly, but no charges. (She has been identified as a "pharmacist" - however her name is NOT on the Pharmacy Council register)
Yes - this is a day of shame and disgrace, especially for the Police
The gender activist thugs may have done us all a favour. It's hard to claim victim status if you are using violence and intimidation to victimise others. But then irony is lost on them.
Good article in the Spectator today:
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-shameful-persecution-of-posie-parker-in-new-zealand/
Yes, the police commissioner should resign and the opposition party(s) should be calling for his resignation.
Hmm, I don't think they're impotent. They can muster up a surprising amount of force when it suits them - the Wellington protest is the obvious example.
Nope, they chose to deal with the protesters the way they did.
This leaves on far more extreme forms of expression on the table.
Can someone please correct this sentence.
@Doug Longmire:
because we see clearly that the mob can rule
Only when they're aligned with a Left-wing government and MSM. As we saw with the anti-mandate protests in Wellington, when the Establishment declares a group to be a mob, the Police are very much on the job.
Have already done so Karl.
Refreshing to see all the comments are attributed.
Signed already. Stuff etc are predictable in their standpoints....first one I noted at 4am before going to work was by a former Act MP who is now way way on the other side having a go at Parker etc for interfering with the rights of people going about their lives. Suggesting a woman is a woman is obviously interference. _ Paul Peters
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