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Poll: Should far-right groups be given a platform to speak?

Nick Griffin’s invite to a college debate has been withdrawn over safety fears. But should similar figures be invited in the first place?

IT EMERGED YESTERDAY that a student society in Trinity College Dublin had been forced to withdraw an invitation to the leader of the British National Party, Nick Griffin, over security fears.

Griffin had been scheduled to attend a debate being run by the Philosophical Society, on the topic of immigration, but the debate was cancelled by the society and college when they said they could not guarantee the safety of attendees.

Anti-fascist groups had been opposing the visit of the divisive BNP leader, who follows the likes of Jean Marie le Pen in being denied an opportunity to speak at an Irish college.

Today our poll centres on the rights of free speech and of the freedom to demonstrate. Should far-right leaders, like Griffin, be given a chance to speak and share their views? Or is it fair that, given the nature of their opinions, they be denied a platform?

Should far-right political groups be given a platform to speak?


Poll Results:

Yes (1493)
No (573)
I don't know (118)

Read: Trinity society withdraws invite to BNP leader Nick Griffin >

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Gavan Reilly
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