Quote Originally Posted by Magpies1959 View Post
I was just replying to BFP, regarding the flag waving. I think it has gone past retaliation, and the Iraelis are looking equally as bad as the Palestinians. What we can do without, is demonstrations from supporters of either side on the streets of this country. It is nowt to do with free speech, it is just provocation, it might be what goes off in Israel and Palestine, but we should not tolerate it here.
Freedom of assembly and the right to protest have everything to do with free speech.

The right to free speech doesn't overrule every other consideration (you can't shout "fire" in a crowded theatre etc), and you may think that considerations for public safety outweighs the right to free speech on this occasion. That's a legitimate view, but not one I share as things stand. If that's your view, that's fine, I respectfully disagree.

But saying that the right to protest and the right of assembly have nothing to do with free speech is not a sensible argument.