Rain launch invites civil liberties head to speak about freedom of speech

Rain, the art journal/zine published in Vancouver, launched its fourth issue on Wednesday night by giving over the microphone to David Eby, the executive director of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, who made an impassioned speech about RCMP intimidation and the loss of freedom in Vancouver and B.C. because of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. He said in part:

What is a more effective security strategy: ensuring that people with grievances feel so repressed, demonized and shut out of the legitimate processes of accountability that they are not able to speak up in public?

Or providing venues for people to raise concerns, encouraging the public to participate in debate on controversial ideas, and for all of us to be able to have a public discussion about whether or not these Olympics are a good thing after all?

I think the answer is obvious.

Free speech is our guarantee of security. Repression will only guarantee instability.

The whole speech can be read on Eby's blog.