A pro-free-speech group filed court documents against the Auckland Council and Mayor Phil Goff on the ban on two controversial "media" alt-speakers. use places belonging to the city. Coalition said it filed documents at the High Court in Auckland against Goff, the Auckland Auckland Regional Council and Facilities under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act.
Before filing the proceedings, the group also wrote an open letter to The Mayor suggests to avoid litigation costs by starting discussions with promoters of Lauren Southern and Stefan's speech event Molyneux, Axiomatic Media.
Lauren Southern is known for her perspective on immigration, feminism and Islam. Photo / Provided
The Canadian couple, who were scheduled to speak at the Bruce Mason Center on the North Shore of Auckland next month, is known to have far right views on immigration, feminism and Islam.
Southern and Molyneux pose as "alt media".
The group's open letter to Goff describes what he claims to be the absence of board discussions about security issues with the organizers or the police, before Goff's tweet announcing the news. prohibition. Let me be very clear, the right to freedom of expression does not mean the right to get a platform @AklCouncil for this speech
The letter also noted that the Australian tour of Canadian speakers was organized on premises belonging to the city council or the state government.
"The coalition has the impression that the mayor wants the police say they can not respect their duty of k The declaration of the group reads as follows:
Southern, who arrived in Australia on weekends -end last, was banned from entering Britain this year for its part "in distribution. According to the BBC, the coalition also includes former Labor Minister Lab Michael Bassett, former head of national parties and law, Dr. Don Brash, Ashley Church business leader, and university professors. [19659014] Controversial speaker Stefan Molyneux. Photo / Provided "src =" data: image / png; base64, R0lGODlhAQABAPAAAOrq6v /// yH5BAAAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw == "data-srcset =" // www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/wF_Qy6KL618iRtZvH4Ui1q6sJUQ=/320×190/smart/filters:quality (70) /arc-anglerfish-syd-prod-nzme.s3.amazonaws.com/public/X4U4WSNA6ZEVZBSGNKTNURBUX4.jpg 320w, // www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/2ck5ARcAaWlfe0z9Q_a36wgaQsY=/375×222/smart/filters:quality ( 70) /arc-anglerfish-syd-prod-nzme.s3.amazonaws.com/public/X4U4WSNA6ZEVZBSGNKTNURBUX4.jpg 375w, // www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/g6KM7P6JnIn8mg0GmLQB2nhyE4A=/620×368/smart/filters:quality(70 ) /arc-anglerfish-syd-prod-nzme.s3.amazonaws.com/public/X4U4WSNA6ZEVZBSGNKTNURBUX4.jpg 620w "/> Controversial Speaker Stefan Molyneux Photo / Provided
Melissa Derby, Coalition Member, Academic Canterbury, said the council had made an "arbitrary and ill-informed decision" that suggests "bias, prejudice and indifference" to the fundamental freedoms set out in the Declaration. rights.
"It is unfortunate that the mayor fled when we gave him every chance to reconsider and avoid court costs," she said.
David Cumin, a member of the Coalition and lecturer at the University of Auckland According to him, the ban was not about the political opinions of speakers, but about security.
"What he risked is to put in place a" veto ", where potential protesters can decide who" This action is to ensure that politicians and officials are not allowed to discriminate against views they dislike regarding taxpayer funded sites, regardless of the extent of their refusal. ""
The other plaintiffs in the proceedings are Axiomatic Media and Malcolm Moncrief-Spittle, a Dunedin Librarian
A Notice of Application for Urgent and Provisional Orders has also been filed with the High Court. Requests that the event license initially granted to Southern and Molyneux remain in force until it can be reviewed by a judge.
Earlier this week, the coalition declared to have exceeded its crowdfunding goal of $ 50,000 to pay legal costs
With the additional funds, Jack Hodder, QC, was hired as lead counsel.
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