There’s a lot of talk about freedom of speech and cancel culture these days.
I attended the ‘Posie Parker’ rally in Albert Park on 25 March, where the protesting crowd were so vocal that self-proclaimed women’s activist, Kelly-Jay Keen-Minshull, had to abort her event and later that day flew out of the country in disgust.
The majority of the crowd were elated – few wanted to hear her divisive words – words based in part on media reports, in particular those from her disruptive rally in Melbourne some days prior.
But now, in retrospect, I think we were wrong in silencing the self-proclaimed, attention seeking, British woman. We should have let her ‘spew her spiel’, even if many of us disagreed with what was expected to fill the air surrounding the rotunda at Albert Park that day. The atmosphere was at times both celebratory and unpleasant, although not as vitriolic as some of the commentary which followed in the days after.
Anyone who has visited London, might have visited the north eastern edge of Hyde Park on a Sunday morning to listen to, be entertained by, agree with, or heckle at, speakers on soap boxes freely expressing whatever views they wished - all this in orderly fashion. One of the best-known locations for public speaking and debate in the world, the premise is simple: anybody can turn up and talk on any subject they like, as long as it is lawful.
It’s a bastion of free speech. But how did it all begin? Speakers’ Corner comes with an impressive history. It is a symbol of democracy, born out of revolution.
In the mid nineteenth century, riots broke out in the north-eastern corner of Hyde Park in reaction to the Sunday Trading Bill, which forbade buying and selling on a Sunday – the only day working people had off. The park was used to protest over workers’ rights, while the more radical Reform League stormed the area in 1866, questioning the control of public space in London.
The Times described the people gathering in Hyde Park to exercise their right to speak out as a “motley crowd” who were interfering with “the enjoyments of those to whom the Park more particularly belongs”. Yet others rejoiced. Marble Arch was becoming an epicentre for the voice of the public.
Pressure on the government meant that the Parks Regulation Act of 1872 granted Park Authorities the right to permit public meetings within its boundaries. And so, a tradition was born, accompanied by legislation. This victory for the common man cemented Speakers’ Corner’s place in history.
All this has given rise to an idea for consideration; Does this city need a Speakers Corner?
I look across at Western Park, the area on the corner of Ponsonby Road and Hepburn Street and can imagine a Sunday morning scene like that of Auckland’s version of Hyde Park’s Speakers’ Corner, albeit on a smaller scale of course.
What do you think? Letters to the Editor are encouraged! (William Greig)
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