"What does free speech have to do with Palestinian liberation?" SOAS University of London (15.5.25)

By Corruption Buzz On Jun 13, 2024

The systematic erasure of Palestine that has taken place over the course of the long 20th and 21st centuries has increasingly involved the suppression of pro-Palestine activism. In this lecture, I examine the role that the struggle for free speech plays in Palestinian liberation. I attend to the means through which pro-Palestine speech and activism have been suppressed through quasi-legal means, including the IHRA definition of antisemitism. I argue that free speech is best understood not as a means of balancing different opposing sides, but rather as a dimension of human freedom. One implication of this approach is that the struggle for Palestinian self-determination has a specific contribution to make to our understanding of free speech in general. Finally, I consider what the ongoing genocide in Gaza means for the future of Palestine activism.

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To support the Palestinians of Gaza, in addition to local activism and lobbying your political representatives (see my community posts for links), I recommend engaging with and donate to these amazing two charities that are on the ground and doing important work in Gaza

Medical Aid for Palestinians: https://www.map.org.uk/donate/donate
The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund invites one-off donations https://www.pcrf.net/get-involved as well as sponsorship for specific surgeries for specific Palestinian children: https://www.pcrf.net/one-time-surgery-sponsorship

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