Part 3
Once again, I encourage you to enter into this debate, rise up in the name of free speech and political activism and share this post, and write your comments below.
Our freedoms and civil liberties are at stake.
Jeremy Goldstein
Founder and director, London Artists Projects
"The Roundhouse seems to have caved into censorship and bullying. It's claim that there is a risk that the Truth to Power Cafe event would not be a 'safe space' for young artists is unfounded and backed by no evidence. As far as I am aware, all the artists performing are advocates of equality and inclusion. How can that threaten anyone? This is another example of the closing down of open debate in the apparent name of not causing offence," said human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who was due to speak at the event on 30 October
"I abhor any abuse of freedom of speech, but i must say i am personally bewildered by all these labels and divisions. I'm repulsed by the deliberate stirring up and violent shrieking of those who enjoy intimidating and frightening whoever they judge as weak or wrong. I've lived with mental illness all my life, my own and others’, so i've learned through pain & endurance to have my own terms, and not to give ground where my integrity is threatened. I’ve also learned greatly from the example of others. I was once present at an unforgettable event where two men who had spent decades literally trying to kill one another sat side by side as blood brothers, telling the story of how everything that had separated them had dissolved through listening, learning to live and let live, coming to accept and to love. All i know is how extraordinarily different humans are from one another, as well as being fundamentally similar in key ways. I will always stand with the truth as it makes itself known to me."
Harry Burton, theatre director and actor and director of Harold Pinter’s Art, Truth and Politics with Mark Rylance, who was due to partake in a post show discussion with Index on Censorship on 31st October
"We have known and worked closely with Jeremy Goldstein since 2011. We know him to be a tireless worker and activist for LBGT and Queer Rights. Jeremy is one of the few producers willing to take on work that challenges the status quo and has been a tireless champion of our Feminist, Queer, Political Humanistic work that has always given voice to the outsider. To blame Jeremy Goldstein for the unfortunate infiltration of a transphobic hate monger into the wide open Truth To Power Cafe is to put the blame in the wrong place. Jeremy did the right thing. He stood up to hatred and nipped it in the bud, closing the opening to their participation. Do you not find it odd that it is the producer of an open microphone for the people who is being castigated and blamed and NOT the hate monger? This is how the seeds of division are sown and where well intentioned progressives do the work of the right wing with the strategy of divide and conquer. There can be no progress for society without a learning curve for everyone.This is one small battle in the war for understanding in what is now in a very complicated and fraught free speech landscape. Are we really going to let Free Speech die or will we use Free Speech as Jeremy Goldstein just did to stop a transphobic rant?"
Penny Arcade, Steve Zehentner, New York, New York
"The most important thing to do to tackle transphobia and all hate-speech is to platform those standing up to it. It shows the power of the Truth to Power Cafe. That it has been shut down by Roundhouse and is a crying a shame. It is testimony to Truth to Power Cafe's existence that it is spreading throughout the UK and beyond as people are hungry for true justice. As the great Paolo Freire says “Washing one's hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral. ” ― Paulo Freire. Long Live Truth to Power cafe!"
Dan Glass, HIV+ activist for ACT UP London, human rights activist, activist of the year, who was due to speak at the event on 30th October
"It is deeply sad and frustrating how this situation has been handled by both Index on Censorship and Roundhouse in London. By hiding behind a superficial notion of free speech and suggesting that the event was cancelled due to 'the changing nature' of the project, these institutions are allowing for hate speech to prevail over the rights of citizens to freely exist. As per our statement announcing our decision to unplatform Julie Bindel and her hatred, we believe Freedom of Speech is a very powerful tool and fundamental for democracies to thrive. This does not mean that Hate Speech should go unchallenged and indeed, that hate speech is free of consequence. Much has been said over the past few years about the raise of democratic actions to unplatform anti-trans activism, racism and fascism. Indeed, fascists and anti-trans activists - a lot of them who have engaged in violent actions against innocent folk - have hidden behind free speech as a way to shield any valid criticism of their hatred. Following these events, I would like to extend my support for Jeremy and the Truth to Power Cafe. Having been on the receiving end of threats by the anti-trans hate mongers over the past few days, I understand the fear that comes with and the power these people have. So I am speaking my truth to power here: your actions and hatred only highlight how deeply biggotted and delusional you are, and institutions like Index on Censorship and The Roundhouse should be ashamed of themselves for directly - even if unintentionally - supporting you. You currently stand in the way of democracy and human rights, but mark my words: you won't hold that position for much longer. #Resist"
Xavier de Sousa, artist and activist who was due to speak at the event on 30th October
"I am very disheartened by the decision to cancel the Truth to Power Cafe performances. I was looking forward to using the platform generously offered to me by Jeremy to state publicly and unequivocally my support and solidarity with my trans siblings. The Queer community needs to unite as one - it must never be a place where hatred, bigotry and intolerance can breed. I was appalled at the decision of Index on Censorship to withdraw their support for the event following the removal of Julie Bindel, whose comments have created so much distress to trans people and their allies, as as speaker. Index on Censorship's belief that ultimate freedom of speech is more important than the rights of minority groups to live their lives freely and openly is not a belief that I share. Jeremy recently participated in a Queer Tours of London event, and I know him to be a champion of Queer rights and issues."
Dan de la Motte, would-be participant, activist and performer, Queer Tours of London who was due to speak at the event on 31st October
"I personally think cancelling the Truth to Power Cafe events shows incredibly poor judgement from the Roundhouse. Throwing Jeremy Goldstein and the entire project under the bus, shows weak leadership. Julie Bindell is a troll and a hate monger, and has no place in progressive activism. Her comments about homosexuality are half-baked, worse detrimental. Her views on the Trans community are deplorable and sicken me to the core. She should be ashamed of herself, and these views undermine any attempt to move towards a truly free, safe, respectful and egalitarian society. Jeremy made the right decision in deplatforming her, he was quite clearly strong-armed, if not bullied into an apology by the Index on Censorship. In blaming him for this, the Roundhouse are scapegoating an artist who has spent his entire career championing the very Queer voice they are pitting him against. I’m shocked. The Index on Censorship has too backed the wrong horse, and their statement verges on laughable. Bindell stokes hatred and harm to one of our societies most vulnerable groups, by supporting that voice, Index on Censorship stand in direct opposition to the exact themes of freedom and expression they claim to fight for. In light of this weeks events, I was planning on using the Truth to Power Cafe platform to publicly support my Trans siblings, and strongly condemn both the Index of Censorship and Bindell. I was not the only one. We are one LGBTQ+ community, and many of us planned to stand together in support. In cancelling these shows, the Roundhouse, rather than creating this supposed safe environment, have taken away an opportunity to turn something awful into a truly positive moment. They have robbed us of a chance to come together as a community, of a chance of fellowship, of a place for care. I’m disgusted by Bindell. I’m appalled by the Index of Censorship, I’m disappointed in the Roundhouse."
Stephen Laughton, playwright who was due to speak at the event on 30th October
"I am appalled that in its decision regarding Truth to Power Café the Roundhouse would find itself with so little backbone; trembling and jellied, and with a void where their integrity should be sitting, that they have chosen to cancel the shows next week. They have been tested by a few trans-exclusionary twitter trolls, and they have found themselves wanting. I applauded the decision to remove Bindel from the programme; not because I believe people should be silenced, not because I’m an enemy of free speech, but because in a curated event it is the organiser’s responsibility to ensure the physical and psychological well-being of its participants. Bindel’s presence alone, in light of some of the things she has said publicly on the very many occasions she has been platformed; bringing into question even the right of existence of our trans siblings, puts the psychological safety of any trans participants in peril. How can anyone command the strength to speak their truth to power in an environment where one of their fellow participants is well known for telling the world that they don’t exist, that they’re not who they say they are, that they are frauds, that they are imposters, and that they are a danger to society? The same words, the same hate; that has been used – and still is in many places around the world – when talking about gay, lesbian and bisexual cis-gendered men and women, who now have the power and opportunity to stand as allies for the trans and no-binary members of our LGBTQ+ family. As a gay cis man I stand with my trans and non-binary siblings. As a socialist I stand by its empirical principle that all people are equal. And as I playwright I stand for the rights of freedom of expression. But not hate. I do not stand for hate. Or for the exclusion of a people because of who they are. Or for the erasure of a people, and the silencing of a people, because some would seek to cut them off from the rest of humanity. This was to be my third experience of Truth to Power Café; my first was as an audience member, my second was as a participant. I was once again going to speak about the use of exclusionary language used by professionals within the arts; a form of snobbery and classism which erects a wall between working-class artists and the professions they choose to pursue in the arts. I was going to come down hard on an industry and a community which claims to be openings itself up, to be inclusive, to embrace diversity; and yet has chosen to create a vocabulary devoid of context with the sole intention of holding the “wrong sort” of artists out of their enclave. This would have been my truth to power, and I am disappointed I will no longer be able to present this to a London audience; a speech which I’m very proud to say has since its last outing has been circulated around the offices of Arts Council England’s Northern Region. I have been proud to work with Jeremy and the team at Truth to Power Café, and I would be proud to do so again; for here is a man who believes absolutely in the need and the benefit of confronting those whose shadow’s reach is greater than their physical stature, who would seek to use their immense power to hold others underfoot. And this is why it is so incredulous, and so obscene that the Roundhouse would use their considerable power to silence those who really do feel the weight of oppression on them every day; in order to validate the right of one person to use their very substantial power to oppress others. Even in the kindest, most generous light I can cast on the Roundhouse in the making of this decision; it is a shameful display of cowardice. "
Leon Fleming, playwright who was due to speak at the event on 30th October