So, the planned debate at Durham University Debating Society has been called off after fears of violence.
Durham Union Society (DUS) today announced it had to cancel plans for the debate, entitled This House believes in a Multicultural Britain in Durham City.
Political commentator Kulveer Ranger and Tory MP Edward Leigh would have proposed the motion, while BNP MEP Andrew Brons and Leeds BNP councillor Chris Beverley would have spoken in opposition.
As shown below the only threats of violence come from the left. Also as predicted this latest intimidation is very likely to backfire on the establishment. People are beginning to tire of the all embracing thugery of the left wing anti free speech movement. Hope not Hate, who orchestrated this campaign and others such as UAF and the NUS but surely live in fear of the backlash.
Below are the full texts of two letters. The first from two NUS representatives, Bellavia Ribeiro-Addy (NUS Black Students' Officer, NUS Anti-Racism, Anti-Fascism Convenor) and Daf Adley (NUS LGBT Officer, NUS Anti-Racism, Anti-Fascism Committee) to the Durham Union Society. The second is a response to that letter from Tom Fletcher (University of Durham) to the NUS president Wes Streeting.
The letter from the NUS is stunning in it’s arrogance, containing open threats, intimidation, lies and distortions . One can only wonder at the irony of their clear use of fascist tactics. Clearly they believe themselves to be so far above the law and immune from any form of legal control that they don’t even bother to hide it any more.
As I said the whole letter is published below, but this will give you a little idea:
Should you fail to listen to our advice you will have a colossal demonstration on your hands. The National Union of Students, Unite Against Fascism, and other anti-fascist organisations are already mobilising nationally and organising coach loads of students to demonstrate at your university on Friday evening. This will no doubt bring with it a lot of negative media attention and if any students are hurt in and around this event responsibility will lie with you.
The response from Durham, whilst hardly flattering to the BNP, shows that some people at least still have the capacity to understand the democratic process. Indeed the level of their contempt for the NUS probably surpasses that of their dislike of the BNP.
Mr Streeting, I was unaware that NUS representatives were mandated to threaten Universities on behalf of the Union. Is this common practice? Is it normal for your representatives effectively to intimidate Universities into complying with NUS' views? Were you aware of such threats and as such do these two representatives actually speak for yourself and the whole Union in what they say?
Thanks to misterfox for the heads up on this.
Continue to the letters: