Freedom of Speech Campaign
Our Freedom of Speech Campaign is calling for a constitutional and legal safeguard to freedom of speech in the UK.
Certain pieces of legislation that brought into effect "hate speech" crimes have outlawed expressions of opinion that could be deemed to be threatening or inciting hatred.
Of course, as a Christian organisation, we do not support hateful remarks or opinions, yet we do hold that in a free society, people should be free to express such opinions without fear of arrest.
We carried out a petition that attracted a handful of signatures, due mainly to lack of publicity, but now we have taken the campaign a step further, and are calling on the House of Lords to amend the Protection of Freedoms Bill to include a declaration of the right to freedom of speech.
We are also asking, as a further alternative action, that section 5 of the Public Order Act has the word "insulting" removed.
Action Point 1:
Print out and distribute our flyer, promoting the principle of free speech and the erosion that it has suffered.
Action Point 2:
A number of MP's have expressed interest in amending the current Protection of Freedoms Bill to include measures to restore free speech.
The Lords are also likely to be open to this aim.
Action Point 3 - Prayer Point:
Please pray that the Government and Parliament may choose to listen to concerns over the erosion of free speech in the UK.
Articles:
There are a number of articles on the WebPaper:
Speak Our Mind - 2nd February 2011
Campaign Article - 12th May 2010
Civitas Report - 27th July 2010