ASpeakers' Corner is an area wherefree speechopen-air public speaking,debate, anddiscussion are allowed. The original and best known is in the north-east corner ofHyde Park inWestminster, England, nearMarble Arch. Historically there were a number of other areas designated as Speakers' Corners in other parks in London, such asLincoln's Inn Fields,Finsbury Park,Clapham Common,Kennington Park, andVictoria Park. Speakers' Corners have been established elsewhere in the United Kingdom and in other countries.
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Speakers here may talk on any subject, as long as the police consider their speeches lawful, although this right is not restricted to Speakers' Corner only. Contrary to popular belief, there is no immunity from the law, nor are any subjects proscribed, but in practice the police intervene only when they receive a complaint.[1] On some occasions in the past, they have intervened on grounds ofprofanity.[2]
Though Hyde Park Speakers' Corner is considered the paved area closest toMarble Arch,[3] legally the public speaking area extends beyond theReformers' Tree[4] and covers a large area from Marble Arch toVictoria Gate, then alongthe Serpentine to Hyde Park Corner and the Broad Walk running from Hyde Park Corner to Marble Arch.[5]
Public riots broke out in the park in 1855, in protest over the Sunday Trading Bill, which forbade buying and selling on a Sunday, the only day working people had off. The riots were described byKarl Marx as "the beginning of the English revolution".[6]
TheChartist movement used Hyde Park as a point of assembly for popular protests, but no permanent speaking location was established. TheReform League organised a massivedemonstration in 1866 and thenagain in 1867, which compelled the government to extend the franchise to include mostworking-class men.[citation needed]
Speakers' Corner is often held up to demonstratefreedom of speech, as anyone can turn up unannounced and talk on almost any subject, although always at the risk of beingheckled by regulars. The corner was frequented by Karl Marx,Vladimir Lenin,George Orwell,C. L. R. James,Walter Rodney,Ben Tillett,Marcus Garvey,Kwame Nkrumah, andWilliam Morris.[7][8]
The Australian historianHenry Reynolds, who visited London in the early 1960s, noted the impression the corner had on him:
At Hyde Park Corner, race and colonialism were more commonly discussed than older concerns about class or religion. One morning we joined a crowd listening to an articulate and fiery young African man. To our embarrassment he was being heckled by a party of young Australians. Among other things they told him was that there was noracial prejudice in Australia because everyone there was equal. With that the speaker turned on the hecklers and launched a tirade about Australia's treatment of the Aborigines. He was probably better informed about the matter than were the Australians in his audience, myself included.[9]
Lord Justice Sedley, inRedmond-Bate v Director of Public Prosecutions (1999), described Speakers' Corner as demonstrating "the tolerance which is both extended by the law to opinion of every kind and expected by the law in the conduct of those who disagree, even strongly, with what they hear." The ruling famously established in English case law that freedom of speech could not be limited to the inoffensive but extended also to "the irritating, the contentious, the eccentric, the heretical, the unwelcome, and the provocative, as long as such speech did not tend to provoke violence", and that the right to free speech accorded byArticle 10 of theEuropean Convention on Human Rights also accorded the right to be offensive. Prior to the ruling, prohibited speech at Speakers' Corner includedobscenity,blasphemy,insulting the Monarch, or inciting abreach of the peace.[10][11]
The following organisations and individuals, listed here in alphabetical order, have (had) a well-established history of speaking regularly in Hyde Park.
Speakers CornerSouthampton opened in 1971, with it first being used on the 27 November 1971 by an anti-apartheid group.[24]
Speakers' Corner Nottingham was officially inaugurated byJack Straw, then secretary of state for justice, on 22 February 2009. The designated space occupied a new landscaped extension to the city'sOld Market Square, at the junction of King Street and Queen Street. The large paved space includes the new statue ofBrian Clough, the former manager ofDerby County andNottingham Forest, who forged ties between the two cities which were famous for local rivalry.[25]
Speakers CornerLichfield was launched in May 2009, with the help of the Speakers' Corner Trust, to much applause. Hundreds of people joined in the celebrations which featured more than 30 speeches, musical and dance performances, as well as appearancesChris Walker.
Today Speakers' Corner is a site for events and activities, as well as a destination for all the community to visit and have their say on topics close to their hearts.
Since the launch, a plaque has been unveiled at the site, along with a code of conduct. Plans for the site include a stone plaque marking the spot, as well as a series of annual events.
TheSussex coastal town ofWorthing has had its own Speakers' Corner at Splash Point on the town's seafront since theVictorian era. A sign today marks the "stand for delivering sermons and public speeches", while another sign close by marks the site by the old Fish Market where theSalvation Army has preached the Gospel since 1886. The Speakers' Corner fell into disuse in the late 20th century. As part of the Government'sSea Change programme, run by theCommission for Architecture and the Built Environment, the area benefited from a £500,000 grant to re-landscape the area around Splash Point including a revival of the Speakers' Corner. Work was completed early in 2011[26]
Leeds is known to have its own Speakers' Corner, at Victoria Gardens[27] onthe Headrow, in front of theLeeds City Art Gallery, Central Library and Henry Moore Sculpture Centre building. It is a pivotal point in Leeds for justice and anti-war marches, most of which gather and terminate here, as well as for war memorial services due to the location of Leeds's Municipal Cenotaph.
The stepped base ofGrey's Monument is used as a stage by assorted musicians, preachers and activists.
The steps of Guildhall,Portsmouth are often used for protest activity, speeches and activists.
There is a Speakers' Corner inThe Domain, Sydney, established in 1878. The speakers talk every Sunday afternoon from 2 pm until 5 pm, and have a website. Official outdoor "free" speech first appeared in the hustings and hanging grounds of Hyde Park Sydney in 1874. Free speech in this form was banned following a serious riot between Catholics and Orangemen. However, following the formalisation of free speech in Speakers' Corner in London it was decided in 1878 that The Domain would be the place for free speech in Sydney.
InDiary of a Voyage to Australia, New Zealand and other lands (published 1896), theChristadelphian preacherRobert Roberts wrote: "On the west side [of a particular location] is a feature peculiar to Sydney in all the world – a preaching park. There are of course, parks in other cities where open-air spouting is practiced on Sundays, such as Hyde Park, in London : but there is no city in the world where a park on such a scale is used by all classes of religious people. It is a wooded enclosure, like a nobleman's park in England, kept in capital order, both as regards the turf under foot, and the tall and noble trees that give shelter overhead from the sun." "All the sects and denominations use it. There is none of the sense of infra dig that associates itself with out-door preaching in England.""Every denomination has its own tree." "The various religious bodies hold their meetings sufficiently apart to make no interference one with the other. It is a sort of weekly babel of religious tongues – recognised and patronised by the whole community"
Other Speakers' Corners are found inBrisbane outsideParliament House, and inKing George Square. InMelbourne, Speakers' Corner was originally held inBirrarung Marr where the original site is still visible. This site has lost some popularity over the years and Speakers' Corner (Now called "Speakers' Forum") is currently held outside theState Library of Victoria on Sunday afternoon from 3 pm.
Dedicated by theEarl Mountbatten on 12 April 1966, Speakers' Corner inRegina, Saskatchewan is located on the north shore ofWascana Lake. It serves as a constant reminder of the notion of free speech and assembly and a tribute toSaskatchewan people who have upheld that heritage. The two lanterns framing the south entrance to the main plaza formed part of the Cumberland Screen at the entrance to Speakers' Corner in London. The podia on the main plaza are from the exterior columns of the Old City Hall (1908–1965) and symbolise free speech in democracy at the municipal level of government. Six paperbirch trees were taken fromRunnymede Meadow inWindsor Great Park, nearWindsor Castle. It was there thatKing John signedMagna Carta on 15 June 1215. The ten gas lamps surrounding the corner come from King Charles Street which runs from Whitehall to St. James Park, London, near the Houses of Parliament. They were erected in 1908 during the reign ofEdward VII, whoseroyal cypher E.R. VII appears on the base of each lamp.
Kitchener, Ontario has a small area designated as a Speakers' Corner on the northwest corner of King and Benton Street. It has existed since the mid-1980s.
TheCity Forum, a public forum was held weekly on Sunday inVictoria Park's Bandstand. The forum brought together politicians, academics and prominent public figures to discuss current issues, and also allowed the public to participate in a Q&A session. Each week, a number of secondary schools were invited to bring pupils to the forum to ask questions. The forum was broadcast live onRTHK TV 31 and was also sometimes held in other locations across Hong Kong such asCentenary Garden andMorse Park as well as across different university campuses.[citation needed] The forum ended on 18 July 2021.
Mass demonstration and speeches are traditionally held on the Hotel Indonesia roundaboutSelamat Datang Monument. This venue however, is located the middle of Jakarta's main boulevard and commercial district, thus causing a severe traffic jam when a rally is held. To accommodate this, Jakarta's provincial government built a small park on the northwestern corner of theMerdeka Square, across theIstana Merdeka, Indonesia's presidential palace. Officially named 'Taman Pandang Istana' (Palace-View Park), this park is known commonly as 'Taman Unjuk Rasa' (Demonstration Park).[28]
As a tribute to democracy and freedom of speech, inLajatico, Pisa, there a small area designated as Speakers' Corner ("L'angolo del parlatore") on a corner of the Vittorio Veneto main square. It is opened for the public to speak on Sundays (9 to 11 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.). The first speaker was the mayor Alessio Barbarfieri, who highlighted the importance of the acts of speaking and listening for a good and effective local governance.Since the Roman age, there is the "Statua delPasquino", a sculpture inRome where everyone can attach anonymous criticism in written form; similar thing happens with Toni Rioba statue inVenice.
The first Speakers' Square inMalaysia was established at theEsplanade,George Town,Penang on 4 May 2010. It is opened for the public to speak on Wednesday and Sunday (6.00 pm to 10.00 pm).[29] The first speaker was Tan Seng Hai who shared his views on preventing Ascot SportsSdn. Bhd. from conducting betting activities in the Penang state.
Conditions for use of Speakers' Square
In the Netherlands, there is a permanently designated speakers' corner called theSpreeksteen inAmsterdam. Lawfully, every person has the freedom of speech as a matter of right. The 'Spreeksteen' is open for free speech 24-hours a day, and was established to allow complete free speech. The 'Spreeksteen' has been located in theOosterpark in Amsterdam since 5 May 2005, and has been erected by a citizens action after the brutal murder of film-maker and columnistTheo van Gogh. Plans for bringing the Amsterdam Speakers' Corner online with a permanent camera and microphone are in a phase of installation. In the meantime the speakers are filmed with a hand-held camera.[30]
On 1 October 2006,Michiel Smit, a far-right activist, spoke at the Spreeksteen.Antifascist demonstratorscounter-protested, using noise to disrupt the speech.[citation needed]
There is a Speakers' Corner inAlbert Park inAuckland at Princes Street, opposite to theUniversity of Auckland.
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The Speakers' Corner inSingapore was opened on 1 September 2000, to allow Singapore citizens to speak freely. They are exempted from the need to obtain a police permit as long as they meet the terms and conditions of use.
The Speakers' Corner is located inHong Lim Park, a popular venue for many election rallies and political speeches in the 1950s and '60s. Hong Lim Park is centrally located, well-served by public transport and is sited in a high public density area.
In 2004, public exhibitions and performances were added to the list of exempted activities at the Speakers' Corner.
From 1 September 2008, Singapore citizens can also organise or participate in demonstrations at Speakers' Corner without having to obtain a police permit. With this latest change in policy to allow the venue to be used freely as an outdoor demonstration site, coupled with the liberalisation on the use of sound amplification and the extension of operating hours of the venue, the Speakers' Corner aims to address the genuine desire by some Singaporeans for lawful outdoor demonstrations and processions as a means of political expression.
Singapore citizens who wish to hold a speech, exhibition/performance or demonstration at the Speakers' Corner can register with the National Parks Board, which manages Hong Lim Park. Online registration is available on the website.
An area was set up inBangkok in the 1930s, and quickly became known as Hyde Park, to enable freedom of speech and the airing of political views inThailand. The area was shut down after student rioting and the lethal intervention of the army and it is not discussed openly today.[citation needed]
In 1955, MarshalPlaek Pibulsonggram had visited London as part of an international tour. He became impressed with the "Speakers' Corner" in Hyde Park. Upon his return to Thailand a "Hyde Park" space for free speech and assembly was instituted at the Phramane Grounds in Bangkok. The experiment was well received and effectively stimulated political debate. The experiment was not appreciated by the government though, and in February 1956 restrictions were imposed on the Phramane "Hyde Park". However, during this period the Hyde Park Movement Party had evolved, upholding the legacy of the Hyde Park experiment.[31][32]
Woodford Square inPort of Spain,Trinidad, is also known as "The University of Woodford Square", so named by the first prime minister of TrinidadEric Williams, who gave many speeches here. Another nickname, "People's Parliament", comes from theBlack Power movement of the 1970s. Flanked by Trinidad's Parliament and Halls of Justice the Square still plays host to speeches of a highly topical and political nature.
In the southeast corner of the square, a blackboard lists the day's discussion as well as other important information. The speakers' topics are divided by interest and known as "classes".
Tom L. Johnson, the radical reforming Mayor ofCleveland (1901–1909), dedicated the north-west quadrant of Public Square to free speech, as in Hyde Park. Speeches and meetings there were common in the early part of the century; AnarchistEmma Goldman addressed a large crowd there in 1908. Today the site remains the traditional place for rallies and demonstrations in Cleveland, around Mayor Johnson's statue.
TheUniversity of California at Berkeley had a free speech area in front of Sproul Plaza until 1964.The University of Missouri hosts a Speaker's Corner, referred to as "Speaker's Circle". There are only two such locations in the entire state of Missouri.[33]
As a result of winter semesters visits to England and Hyde Park,Elon University created a Speakers' Corner on campus. No persons from outside the university may speak without a permit. Students are free to speak at any time as long as they don't use amplification, do not disrupt others, do not damage property and do not cause dangerous conditions.
Bughouse Square inWashington Square Park, Chicago, was known as a free speech site from the 1910s to the 1960s.
The pedestrian-only area of Pennsylvania Avenue on the north side of the White House in Washington, D.C. has become a de facto speaker's corner.[34] Consistent with the principles of theFirst Amendment, ad hoc public speaking is generally legal in all public places in Washington DC, although organised demonstrations require police permits.
Inspired by Speakers' Corner,Karl Dean, the Mayor ofNashville, designated a space for live music in the southwest corner ofCentennial Park (Nashville),[35] calling itMusicians Corner. A free concert series of the same name takes place in this space each year.[36]
