Wellington, May 15th 2024
Speak Up for Women reaffirms its commitment to the principles of free speech as the murmurings of anti-free speech protest gather momentum both within Wellington City Council and in the wider Wellington community.
Upon learning that a collection of organisations have the temerity to utilise rate-payer funded venues for the purposes they were designed, employees of the Wellington City Council have voiced their bias on social media with an attempt to cancel the event. This is a poignant reminder of the need to yet again safeguard the freedom of expression for all New Zealanders, even the ones we disagree with. Because we’ve been there.
Speak Up for Women have repeatedly out-manoeuvred the ‘woke’ in their determination to silence and negate the principles we hold, as have many other organisations. We stand in solidarity with all those who are utilising their freedom of expression in the face of insults, self-righteous protest and attempts to cancel their event.
It is important that we protect this most fundamental human right. Speak Up for Women urges the public to resist any attempts to suppress dissenting voices by the accusations of bigotry and facism. It is not possible to live in a society which 100% follows one ideology, however it is possible to live in a society which adheres to the rights set out in legislation, namely the right to gather in public, the right to seek, receive and impart information, and the right to hold an opinion.
Speak Up for Women remains committed to advocating for the preservation of free speech rights for New Zealanders and we call upon elected councillors to maintain your commitment to all Wellingtonians and to all rate-payers.