Controversial event at UoN cancelled after backlash

A group of LGBTQ+ students have successfully campaigned to cancel a planned University of Nottingham (UoN) event with a member of a controversial US church group.

The Westboro Baptist Church, which was the subject of a popular Louis Theroux documentary, is very publicly anti-gay, with some members even being banned from the UK for ‘hate speech’.

The question and answer session, which was planned for Friday November 6, would have involved a discussion with a member of the Kansas-based Church on the topic of ‘freedom’.

The event, which was organised by the philosophy, politics and economics society at the University of Nottingham, was cancelled on Saturday October 24.

After hearing of the event through other media organisations and further research, a group of current and former students were immediately dismayed at the decision for this guest to be booked.

Alexander Cummins-D’Souza, Samuel Burton, Fern Bartlett, Jasper Dunn, Kai Burrage and Nathan Newman chose to write to Nadia Whittome, MP for Nottingham East and Lillian Greenwood, MP for Nottingham South.

Former NTU student and Nottingham resident, Mr Cummins-D’Souza, 24, said: “When we first heard of the event we were in disbelief.

“Our initial reaction was, how could this have happened because it absolutely should not have happened.

“We are all for freedom of speech but there is a line, and we decided that the best way forward was for us to get our MPs involved.

“It is pleasing that our MPs were so quick to respond and we are happy that the event has been cancelled.”

The friends decided to contact their local MPs rather than the university directly, as they felt it was the best and most productive place for them to collectively voice their frustrations at the event.

A spokesperson from the University of Nottingham’s press office said: “The University of Nottingham does not in any way condone the actions and statements of the Westboro Baptist Church.

“This was a student society event designed to highlight the absurdity of such views as part of a series exploring the nature of intolerance.

“We think the society has made the right decision in cancelling their event in the interests of the wellbeing of our community.”

A petition was also put together to stop the event going ahead, receiving over 1,100 signatures.

By Edward Kay

Feature image credit: Olimpia Zagnat