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NEU Senior Regional Support Officer
Stifling of free speech at universities? Palestine campaigners are the biggest victims
‘No-platform’ and ‘safe space’ policies are not progressive – they are being used to shut down and bully Palestinian rights activists on campus, writes OLIVER VARGAS

NOT many weeks go by when a politician or journalist doesn’t decry the demise of free speech at universities and “snowflake” millennials. 

Former universities minister Jo Johnson recently pledged to combat the stifling of free speech and debate on campuses, saying there will be a “legal duty” to ensure all students, faculty or visitors are not discriminated or “no-platformed” based on their beliefs. Good. 

As a co-chair of the Palestine Society at my university, I know that we face the biggest obstacles and the most ludicrous attempts to police and shut down our activities — though I imagine Johnson’s plans aren’t quite aimed at providing for greater free speech for Palestine activists. 

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