Freedom of Speech? – For Who?
No Free Speech for Traitors!
Fight Hate Speech- No Platform for Fascists!
In recent weeks, Britain’s far right movement in Ireland has been attempting to win support by championing the idea of ‘free speech’. But as with all issues, it is important to investigate the class forces at play to understand what is really going on.
The far right in Ireland represent the most fanatical, backward supporters of the ongoing Free State Counter Revolution against the All Ireland People’s Republic. This is clearly evident by their baners and placards fetishising the traitor and Arch Counter Revolutionary Michael Collins, under whose leadership the free State baned the Republican press through force of arms and his free State cronies later executed the chief of the Republican Press, Erskine Childers. Hardly the actions of the advocates of Free Speech.
At the height of the most recent phase of the war for National Liberation, today’s far right leaders and champions of Free Speech from Gemma O’Doherty to Justin Barrett and Hermonn Kelly were notably quiet, if not actively supporting the Free State as it implemented section 31 of the broadcasting act preventing free speech for Republicans while Rowan Croft fought in the ranks of Britain’s Imperialist Army.
It is clear then, from even this brief investigation that the far right in Ireland do not support Free Speech. When they talk about Free Speech they are arguing in defence of Hate Speech, not Free Speech for all and certainly not for Republicans, Socialists and working class voices. Free speech to the far right means the freedom to scapegoat travellers, the disabled, migrant workers, rape victims and refugees without being challenged. They want the freedom to freely express racsist, misogynistic, homophobic fascist and Imperialist ideas with impunity. The far right in Ireland and around the world want freedom of speech for the dominant class alone.
As Irish Socialist Republicans, we believe in the words of the great anti Fascist and Socialist Republican Frank Ryan, that there should be ‘No Free Speech for Traitors’.
Make no mistake, the far right and their supporters are traitors as they are actively working with loyalist death squads and British Imperialism in Ireland. How can anyone take such traitors seriously?
Irish Republicans have always opposed hate speech and will continue to do so. The best way to defeat it is through the building of a strong policy of no platform for Fascists, safeguarded by a United anti fascist front of all progressive forces
Don’t be misled by Britain’s far right in Ireland. Stand against the traitors, stand against the fascists, No Platform- No Pasaran!