[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Index on Censorship CEO Jodie Ginsberg tweets her reaction to the announcement that Steve Bannon has been disinvited from a New Yorker event after protests about his inclusion.
OK. Here are some thoughts on @NewYorker decision to disinvite Steve Bannon as a speaker at its festival (thread).
— Jodie Ginsberg (@jodieginsberg) September 4, 2018
1. Bannon is a hateful bigot who espouses white supremacist views under cover of intellectual ‘alt-right’ argument.
— Jodie Ginsberg (@jodieginsberg) September 4, 2018
2. New Yorker knew this and was under no obligation to invite him.
— Jodie Ginsberg (@jodieginsberg) September 4, 2018
3. However, it’s important views such as Bannon’s are held up to scrutiny and in the light so they can be dismantled. Time and again. A challenging, on-stage interview could offer that opportunity.
— Jodie Ginsberg (@jodieginsberg) September 4, 2018
4a. Having invited him then disinvited him because of a reaction they could have expected, N.Yorker succumbs to hecklers’ veto – allows people like Bannon to play victim card, and declare themselves free speech martyrs.
— Jodie Ginsberg (@jodieginsberg) September 4, 2018
4b. This feeds conspiracist notion that their truth is so powerful their enemies would do anything to suppress it. This strengthens the likes of Bannon, not weakens them.
— Jodie Ginsberg (@jodieginsberg) September 4, 2018
5. It would be great if people like New Yorker,Telegraph etc spent half as much time and money on commissioning interesting and powerful new voices as they do wheeling out the same bunch of self-important, middle-aged white men (viz Boris Johnson et al) at every opportunity. ENDS
— Jodie Ginsberg (@jodieginsberg) September 4, 2018
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