March for Free Expression: An Update

 
I’ve mentioned in previous posts the grassroots movement in the UK that was started in support of the Danish cartoonists. The March for Free Expression has grown into a full-fledged free speech initiative, and now has an online petition. Supporters are asked to put their signatures to the Statement of Principle:

The strength and survival of free society and the advance of human knowledge depend on the free exchange of ideas. All ideas give offense to someone, and some of the most powerful ideas in human history, such as those of Galileo and Darwin, have given profound religious offense in their time.

The free exchange of ideas depends on freedom of expression and this includes the right to criticize 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.

If you support the right to speak out freely, please go on record and add your signature to this petition.

You can email the March for Free Expression at marchforfreespeech@googlemail.com, and their blog is marchforfreeexpression.blogspot.com.

And don’t forget the rally in Trafalgar Square for Saturday 25th March. If you’re in Britain, and support free speech — not just for Danish cartoonists, but for everyone — you’ll want to be there.