A press release from the March for Free Expression:
A Rally in support of Freedom of Expression will be held in Trafalgar Square, London, UK between 2:00pm and 4:00pm on March 25th 2006. A direct response to the Danish Cartoons controversy, this rally aims to send a message to British politicians of all parties demanding resolute action in the face of violence, threats and intolerance. The statement of principle for the campaign is as follows:
“The strength and survival of free society and the advance of human knowledge depend on the free exchange of ideas. All ideas are capable of giving offence, and some of the most powerful ideas in human history, such as those of Galileo and Darwin, have given profound religious offence in their time.
The free exchange of ideas depends on freedom of expression and this includes the right to criticise and mock.
We assert and uphold the right of freedom of expression and call on our elected representatives to do the same.
We abhor the fact that people throughout the world live under mortal threat simply for expressing ideas and we call on our elected representatives to protect them from attack and not to give comfort to the forces of intolerance that besiege them.”
So far, individuals and organisations from all parts of the political spectrum and from many parts of the world have offered support and endorsements. Though based in Britain, we offer our support and solidarity to the people of Denmark and every other country that faces religious intolerance today, and ask that people in other countries consider organising their own rallies and marches for March 25th.
Let’s march in March to show our governments that we expect our societies to be ones in which free and open debate and disagreement can take place without people being threatened, killed or imprisoned.
Peter Risdon
Patrick Vidaudmarchforfreespeech@googlemail.com