There is a difference between a book being banned and people shaming the publisher for giving a platform to hate mongers. Freedom of expression doesn’t guarantee an audience. Hate mongers aren’t entitled to our attention. FoE includes the right to call out hate (1/n)
People protested. If the publisher was shamed and withdrew the book that is the publisher’s prerogative. No one protesting is powerful enough to order a ban. Those endorsing the book are powerful enough to inflict themselves everywhere. Their FoE can’t demand my attention. (2/n)
It’s shameful that people are demanding minorities, critics of the govt- at the receiving end of the worst sort of hate- listen to ‘both sides.’ Victims & perpetrators aren’t the same. We can’t ensure victims get justice. Will we now also take away their right to protest? (3/n)
The only one who has cut a sorry figure in all of this has been the publisher. First agreed to publish a manuscript of bigotry and then withdrew it. People who protested and rightly so aren’t to be blamed. The blame lies only with the publisher. (4/4)
