'Free Speech Matters' Event - Manchester City Centre

PLEASE NOTE: This event has now been cancelled by the venue for Free Speech is not welcome in Manchester. Refunds will take place over the next few days.

We would like to apologise for the inconvenience this may cause you.

For the people who thought we did not need such an event, this cancellation is a worrying sign that we do more than ever.

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Join us in Manchester city centre on a Saturday afternoon as we explore what free speech means in the modern world. We seem to be in a period where many people do not think it is needed, see no value in such a notion, or believe only one point of view is acceptable. This is a dangerous path we find ourselves walking for it is only through free speech that we can keep lunatics, tyrants and dictators at bay.

“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” ― George Orwell

Without free speech we cannot think, communicate or improve society. It is the reason why the West sprung forth and created the modern world.

Come along to our first in a series of events and explore the basics so we all understand the following three questions:

- What is free speech?

- Why is it important?

- How do we to protect it?

“Free speech exists when someone you don't like is allowed to say something you don't like.” - Elon Musk

We will be welcoming some amazing speakers who will be talking about various aspects of free speech and the three questions proposed.

It is going to be a great afternoon for open and honest conversation.

Speakers Announced:

- Peter Whittle from New Culture Forum: https://www.newcultureforum.org.uk/

- Carl Benjamin from Lotus Eaters: https://www.lotuseaters.com/

- Free Speech Union: https://freespeechunion.org/

- Nick Buckley MBE: https://nickbuckleymbe.substack.com/

- Barry Wall, EDI Trainer: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXPK3-02D0BFf-t7mNxrxGA

- more speakers to be announced

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A little about the organisers Rob Kellner and Nick Buckley:

Rob is an American by birth who has made Manchester his home since 2012. He runs a local Meetup group and is passionate about protecting every person's right to live and speak freely.

Nick is a local lad who has spent the last two decades working across Greater Manchester to deduce crime and improve the quality of life for residents. He came to national attention when the charity he founded sacked him for criticising BLM, he fought back and made the board resign in disgrace, and got his job back. He recently published a book about how we all should be more courageous. Lessons In Courage: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/168053744X