Free Speech Events on 14/07/2018 - Right Minds NZ
RIGHT MINDS NZ
MEDIA ADVISORY
Right Minds NZ founder
Dieuwe de Boer says that several Free Speech Rallies will be
held around New Zealand in Auckland, Wellington, and
Christchurch on Saturday 14 July at midday. “New Zealand
is relatively free country compared to much of the world
because of our values of freedom of speech and expression.
When these are challenged, supporters of liberty must
mobilise quickly to defend these essential foundations of a
civilised society.”
The creation of the nationwide
rallies is in response to steps taken by Auckland Council to
ban Canadian speakers Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux
from using the council-owned venue they had already booked
months earlier.
“It’s unclear exactly why this has
happened because the process has been so shambolic. FIANZ
president Hazim Arafeh called for the pair to be banned from
the country completely because he was afraid that they would
insult Muslims, which would add an incredibly low religious
test to free speech in this country. Auckland Live cited
safety concerns following threats from the Orwellian group
named Auckland Peace Action to harass and blockade the
event. That is the protection of incitement to violence over
the right to free speech. Prior to the cancellation
announcement, Phil Goff tweeted that he was personally
deciding to block them from using the venue because he
disagreed with their political views. In a ratepayer owned
venue, that is an unacceptable attack on free
speech."
“Whichever way you look at it, the
Council’s position is completely untenable.”
The
Auckland Rally will be held at Aotea Square
featuring:
Stephen Berry - Act
Jordan Williams - Free Speech Coalition
Elliot Ikilei - New Conservative Deputy Leader
Dieuwe de Boer - Right Minds NZ
The
Wellington Rally will be held at Parliament Buildings
featuring:
Lindsay Perigo - Free Speech
Coalition
Rachel Poulain - Free Speech Coalition
Tim Levchenko-Scott - Right Minds NZ
The Christchurch
Rally will be held at Entertainment Triangle, North Hagley
Park.
Mr. de Boer says, “It doesn’t matter what your views of Southern’s and Molyneux’s opinions may be. Several of our speakers do not agree with what they have to say. What we are united on; what New Zealanders are largely agreed upon; is that free speech is important, fundamental, and non-negotiable.”
Ends