Banner protest - "No to "The Light" paper - Lies, Hatred, Climate Denial
Channel: Community Solidarity Stroud District
Date: 2022-10-06

A banner was hung from the Merrywalks bridge by a group of Stroud residents today, Thursday 29th September, reading “No to “The Light” paper - lies, hatred and climate change denial”. The protest was organised by Community Solidarity Stroud District, a group which has previously protested against vile antisemitism and Holocaust denial being defended by the paper, as well as highlighting what it describes as the “promotion of homophobia and transphobia” in the publication – which is regularly handed out for free in Stroud High St.

The protest was timed to coincide with a meeting organised by the group which hands out The Light paper locally, hosting the editor of the paper - visiting from Manchester.

The CSSD group has previously organised a statement, signed by 316 local residents, which reads: “We do not want to see The Light paper being distributed where we live. We have our own criticisms of the government’s approach to the pandemic. However, we are alarmed by The Light's use of the pandemic to push support for antisemitism, Holocaust denial and racist hate speech - as well as for denial of climate change, NHS-bashing, and other reactionary views.”

Community Solidarity Stroud District emphasises that they recognise their opponents’ rights to freedom of assembly and speech, but will continue to use their own rights to free speech and assembly to challenge misinformation and hatred.

Sign the statement at tinyurl.com/TheLightStatement
Learn more at: communitysolidaritystrouddistrict.org