Since intellectual freedom is one of the American Library Association's (ALA's)core values of librarianship, I was excited to hear about Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park. People have been able to speak about anything they want on this spot since 1872, when the government of the time responded to public pressure, and made the protests already going on there legal.
Many famous intellectuals have spoken at Speaker's Corner, and speakers still come every Sunday to pontificate on any number of issues. You can hear more about it in my podcast below. (Note: Intro music is Klingner, M. (2008). Sleepless In Thought [Recorded by M. Klingner]. On Songs & Wrongs [No publisher information], under a CC-By license. Voices other than my own recorded at Speaker's Corner on July 25, 2010.)
In contrast, about two and half miles away, there is an uneasy situation regarding a protest in front of Parliament. Under the the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act of 2005, protesting in front of Parliament is illegal, unless the protester(s) have a permit. The law was inspired by the long term protest of anti-Iraq War protester Brian Haw. From May 1 of this year until just a few days ago, a collection of anti-war and pro-democracy protesters and homeless persons set up a camp called Democracy Village in front of Parliament. Here's a picture from July 18.
As you can see, the Village has been removed, but there are few protesters who have held out, and are now on the sidewalk in front of where the Village was.
Links worth checking out:
- ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom
- Speaker's Corner Trust
- SpeakersCorner.net; this site includes lots of podcasts and photos.
- The law allowing for a Speaker's Corner in Hong Lim Park in Singapore. Note the restrictions on what can be discussed.
- A blog about Speaker's Corner in Singapore
- Memo to the House of Commons on protests around Parliament
- Democracy Village
lynn ... i've learned so much from this podcast. love it! wish i had a chance to go there.
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