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Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal DemocratsRepresenting Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot, and Swansea |
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Assembly Member ensures controversial poet will not be gagged
November 13, 2008 12:00 AM
Welsh Liberal Democrat culture spokesperson Peter Black has stepped in to ensure that Welsh writer Patrick Jones will not be gagged from reading his controversial poetry.
Book chain Waterstones cancelled a planned reading by Mr Jones to launch his new book "darkness is where the stars are" after protests from Christian Voice and others. Mr Jones has now accepted an invitation from Mr. Black to give his reading in the Assembly on Thursday December 11 at 12 noon in Committee Room 24.
Peter Black said: "I was disappointed that Waterstones capitulated to the narrow bigotry of Stephen Green's Christian Voice and cancelled a reading by Patrick Jones. I can understand that they would not want their staff and their premises subject to the sort of disruption that this fringe group were threatening. Christian Voice's actions amount to the sort of moral bullying and censorship that has no place in a democratic society.
"Stephen Green and his supporters have every right to object to the contents of this book, but they do not have the right to prevent other people reading it or listening to its author read from it. After appearing with Patrick on a radio-phone-in, I decided to invite Patrick to come to the Assembly to do a reading here.
"Art can only thrive when artists are free to express themselves. I'm pleased that we have found a way to ensure that people can hear Patrick's poems and make their own on them.
"Patrick's work The Guerilla Tapestry was read at the celebration to mark the opening of the Assembly. I'm sure many people will look forward to hearing his latest work in the next month."
Notes:
For more information on Patrick Jones see
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