We are pleased to announce that Bristol UWE have cancelled the debating event and platform for fascist, misogynistic scumbags, Milo Yiannopoulos and Carl Benjamin aka Sargon of Akkad. While this is great (and saves us wasting our milkshakes), and a testament to the power of collective organising and pressure, their stated reasons for pulling the event, “security concerns”, are a disgrace. In UWE’s statement there was nothing about concerns over giving a platform for and enabling far right figures to spout bigotry and thinly veiled hate speech. Of course the UWE debating society and UWE as an institution would predictably justify it all as taking a stand for “free speech” but as militant antifascists who understand the history of fascism and how it grows, we know where this approach leads us. Fascists worldwide and throughout history have always used “free speech” as a shield to gain power. And once they do, see how quickly their much heralded “free speech” disappears for anyone who disagrees with them. It’s giving a platform for fascist, white supremacist views that emboldens fascists and leads to murderous attacks such as what we saw in Pittsburgh, Christchurch, London and so many other places where fascist terrorism has shocked the world. Fascism is not to be debated. It needs to be smashed.
The racists and fascists will be enraged by this cancellation and removal of their platform. The debating society appears similarly annoyed on their twitter yesterday (14th May):
“UWE Debating Society were informed earlier today that the University has withdrawn support for our EU elections hustings. We are still in communication with @UWEBristol and @TheSUatUWE to allay any concerns they have. We are continuing to prepare for Friday’s event.”
Keep your eyes and ears open in case they try to get the event reinstated or to hold a speaking event in an alternative venue in Bristol. Let’s be ready. Antifascists assemble!
