Some people, not surprisingly, want to stop the group Britain First from using what they call "direct action" against Sadiq Khan, the new mayor of London. At first sight that looks like a good idea, but a few moments' thought shows that it is not. Here's why: if you ban any single group of people from expressing their views legally, then you'd have to ban it for everyone. Activist organisations that one might approve of use direct action too.
And then where would free speech and equality be?
I suppose it could depend on what kind of direct action. Obviously direct harassment or intimidation, direct physical attack, and direct vandalism should not be tolerated. But I think we have to accept that there will always be people in society with whose views we profoundly disagree but whose freedom to express those repellent views within the law must be upheld.
July 23 Limerick (continuation of July 21)