Censorship and Silencing of Individuals on Campus

We cannot allow censorship and silencing of individuals

Universities have a particular responsibility to resist this kind of bullying

Southall Black Sisters is a signatory to this important initiative against censorship, for a full list of signatories go to the original article published in the Guardian

The fate of Kate Smurthwaite’s comedy show, cancelled by Goldsmith’s College in London last month (What could be more absurd than censorship on campus, Nick Cohen, Comment) is part of a worrying pattern of intimidation and silencing of individuals whose views are deemed “transphobic” or “whorephobic”. Most of the people so labelled are feminists or pro-feminist men, some have experience in the sex industry, some are transgender.

Last month, there were calls for the Cambridge Union to withdraw a speaking invitation to Germaine Greer; then the Green party came under pressure to repudiate the philosophy lecturer Rupert Read after he questioned the arguments put forward by some trans-activists. The feminist activist and writer Julie Bindel has been “no-platformed” by the National Union of Students for several years.

“No platforming” used to be a tactic used against self-proclaimed fascists and Holocaust-deniers. But today it is being used to prevent the expression of feminist arguments critical of the sex industry and of some demands made by trans activists. The feminists who hold these views have never advocated or engaged in violence against any group of people. Yet it is argued that the mere presence of anyone said to hold those views is a threat to a protected minority group’s safety.

You do not have to agree with the views that are being silenced to find these tactics illiberal and undemocratic. Universities have a particular responsibility to resist this kind of bullying. We call on universities and other organisations to stand up to attempts at intimidation and affirm their support for the basic principles of democratic political exchange.

Image Credit:
Kate Smurthwaite Photo credit Jon Cartwright
Germaine Greer Photo credit Murdo Macleod for the Observer

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