Join a group of concerned organisations to let the National Union of Students (NUS) and its affiliated student unions know that they must revise their policies.

We are deeply concerned by the increasing attempts from NUS and affiliated unions to silence dissenters – including feminists, apostates, LGBTI rights campaigners, anti-racists, anti-fascists and anti-Islamists – through its use of no-platform and safe space policies.

We stand against all prejudice and discrimination. We agree that free speech does not mean giving bigots a free pass. A defence of free speech includes the right and moral imperative to challenge, oppose and protest against bigoted views.

Educational institutions must be a place for the exchange and criticism of all ideas – even those deemed unpalatable by some – providing they don’t incite violence against peoples or communities. Bigoted ideas are most effectively defeated by open debate, backed up by ethics, reason and evidence.

The student body is not homogeneous; there will be differences of opinion among students. The NUS’s restrictive policies infringe upon the right of students to hear and challenge dissenting and opposing views.

We, therefore, call on the NUS to revise its no-platform and safe space policies to facilitate freedom of expression and thought, rather than restrict it.

When: 17 March, 5-6pm
Where: NUS, Macadam House, 275 Gray’s Inn Road, London, WC1X 8QB (Map)

Also tweet “I call on @nusuk to revise safe space and no platform policies to facilitate not restrict free expression and thought”, take part in the thunderclap campaign, or email this message to the NUS at [email protected].