Sir, – Due to a protest and approximately 30 students occupying one of Trinity College’s buildings on Thursday evening the Trinity Philosophical Society has withdrawn an invitation offered to and accepted by BNP leader Nick Griffin to speak during a debate on the topic of immigration.
The protesters assert that they are protecting members of minority groups of students in Trinity College and their rights. However, they are denying the right of Mr Griffin to argue his case. While I strongly disagree with BNP aims and ideologies, I believe in free speech.
Mr Griffin was coming to Trinity for a debate, not a BNP rally, and in a democracy people have a right to express their views, no matter how controversial or unappealing they seem to us. – Yours, etc,