{Revolting Students}[6th May 1968]

[Redbook1:45][19680506:1715b]{Revolting Students}[6th May 1968][Age 16]

Monday 6/5/68

5.15 p.m. {continued}

            I wish the students who riot at Universities could see that they are seriously endangering their own freedom of speech.  By rioting, they lead people and politicians to despise and curse that very freedom to meet and talk and hold opinions, which is the basis of our democracy, as a dangerous privilege; as so indeed it is, in the hands of people with a small or warped sense of responsibility.  The very fact that we in England are still allowed to oppose the government without any form of hindrance or stigma is due to the carefulness and moderation we have always exercised in so doing.  If students -- and others -- try to influence the course of politics by action rather than words -- by violence rather than peaceable persuasion -- then it might not be long before public opinion and governmental authority decides that, for safety's sake, political meetings and incitement to political violence are crimes punishable with imprisonment -- and there goes democracy.  For the sake of their own freedom to riot, students must not riot.

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