Free speech blocked at Nelson library
16 April 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Democracy Action is condemning Nelson City Council and the city library’s decision to withdraw speaking permissions for a public talk on the Treaty of Waitangi by Bruce Moon.

Democracy Action founder Lee Short says, “The Council’s cancellation of a library meeting for fear that it would ‘disturb the peace’ and pose health and safety risks would be laughable, if it didn’t display such disregard for the democratic role of public libraries.”

“Public facilities should provide meeting space for all political views, not limit the free exchange of ideas.”

“If libraries started censoring their books based on political content, there would be justified outrage. How is the principle any different when it comes to speeches?”

ENDS