LONDON
A corner of London that has been synonymous with free speech for more than a century reopened after restoration work on Thursday.
The historic Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park - where most date the free speech tradition to the 1872 Parks Regulation Act - has been given a facelift with new paving, fencing and trees.
Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, reopened the site and recalled visiting the corner with a family member. Mr Javid, whose family are originally from Pakistan, told
a crowd how his relative said: “What you’re seeing here today in Britain would never happen in Pakistan, it would never be allowed.”
Linda Lennon, Chief Executive of the Royal Parks agency, said: “This is the place that gave birth to freedom of speech, not just to British people, but to anyone that comes here.”
Javid experienced some of the rough-and-ready nature of Speaker's Corner when one regular visitor began heckling him because the refurbishment had not included the addition of public toilets.
Reinhard Wentz has been visiting Speaker's Corner for more than 50 years. He said: “I find Speaker's Corner very attractive, because you have a whole range of different opinion here. It’s face-to-face live interaction, not like you have on Twitter where you are anonymous and you can say anything without someone punching you in the nose. Here you have to be careful. At least you have to be humorous.”
Some claim the tradition dates back tobetween the 12th and 18th centuries, when a public gallows occupied the site and condemned prisoners were given the chance to speak before being executed. Famous speakers have included Karl Marx, William Morris, Vladimir Lenin, George Orwell and Marcus Garvey.
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