The far-right is exploiting the values of the liberal establishment by offering them an impossible choice: betray their stated principles (free, open debate) or dignify fascism and white supremacy. This weaponises liberal principles of tolerance to legitimise intolerance.
If we deny racists a platform, they feed off the appearance of censorship- but if we give them a platform, they’ve also won, by being invited, respectfully, into the mainstream. Either way, what matters to them is not debate, but airtime and attention. There is no perfect choice.
But there is a choice. I believe refusing to tolerate intolerance, refusing to play their game on their terms, is the better one.
