A Socialist Party of Great Britain member arguing against capitalism, October 31, 2004

Speakers' Corner is an area where public speaking is allowed, and is located in the north-east corner of Hyde Park in London, England. Speakers are allowed to speak as long as the police consider their speeches do not breach the law. Contrary to popular mythology there is no immunity from the law nor are any subjects proscribed. In practice the police tend to be quite tolerant and intervene either when they receive a complaint or when they hear bad language. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 401 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (616 × 920 pixel, file size: 242 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The text below is generated by a template which has been proposed for deletion. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 401 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (616 × 920 pixel, file size: 242 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The text below is generated by a template which has been proposed for deletion. ... Arguing against capitalism, Speakers Corner, October 31, 2004 The Socialist Party of Great Britain, also known as the SPGB, is a small Marxist party, which is emphatically not Leninist. ... Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners. ... The Serpentine, viewed from the eastern end Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London and one of the Royal Parks of London. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the King (Queen) England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II  -  Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification  -  by Athelstan 967  Area...

There are a number of other areas designated as Speakers' Corners in other parks in London, (eg. Finsbury Park, Clapham Common, Kennington Park and Victoria Park) as well as other countries. Finsbury Park is a place in London, at the junction of the London Boroughs of Islington, Haringey and Hackney. ... Clapham Common Clapham Common is a triangular area of grassland of about 200 acres (0. ... Kennington Park is in Kennington, London, England, in London SE11, and lies between Kennington Park Road and St Agnes Place. ... The Bathing Pond in Victoria Park. ...

Hyde Park Speakers' Corner

Though Hyde Park Speakers' Corner is generally considered to be the paved area closest to Marble Arch, legally it extends as far as the Reform Tree, and also covers a large area of the adjacent parade ground. Marble Arch Marble Arch is a white Carrara marble monument near Speakers Corner in Hyde Park, at the western end of Oxford Street in London, England. ...

Public riots broke out in the park in 1855, in protest over the Sunday Trading Bill which forbade buying and selling on a Sunday which was, at that time, the only day working people had off. These riots were eagerly described by Karl Marx as the beginning of the English revolution. Year 1855 (MDCCCLV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Karl Heinrich Marx (May 5, 1818, Trier, Germany – March 14, 1883, London) was a German philosopher, political economist, and revolutionary. ... The storming of the Bastille, 14 July 1789 during the French Revolution. ...

Speakers' Corner on a Sunday in April, 2004

The Chartist movement used Hyde Park as a point of assembly for workers' protests but no permanent speaking location was established. The Reform League organized massive and violent protests in 1866 and 1867 which compelled the government to extend the franchise to include most working class men. Image File history File links Speakers_corner. ... Image File history File links Speakers_corner. ... A movement for social and political reform in the United Kingdom during the mid_19th century, Chartism gains its name from the Peoples Charter of 1838, which set out the main aims of the movement. ... The term working class is used to denote a social class. ...

The riots and agitation for democratic reform encouraged some to force issue of the "right to speak" in Hyde Park. In 1872 the Royal Parks and Garden's Act delegated the issue of permitting public meetings to the Park Authorities (rather than central government). Contrary to popular belief it does not confer a statutory basis for the right to speak at Speakers' Corner. Parliamentary debates on the act illustrate that a general principle of being able to meet and speak was not the intention, but that some areas would be permitted to be used for that purpose.

Since that time it has become a traditional site for public speeches and debate as well as the main site of protest and assembly in Britain. There are some who contend that the tradition has a connection with the older Tyburn hanging gallows where the condemned man was allowed to speak his last words. Tyburn may refer to: Tyburn, London, a former village in London, United Kingdom Tyburn (stream), London, UK Tyburn, West Midlands, a ward in Birmingham, UK Category: ...

Although many of its regular speakers are distinctly non-mainstream, it has been frequented by such people as Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin, George Orwell, and William Morris. Its existence is frequently upheld as a demonstration of the principle of free speech, as anyone can turn up unannounced and talk on almost any subject, though they are likely to be heckled by regulars. Karl Heinrich Marx (May 5, 1818, Trier, Germany – March 14, 1883, London) was a German philosopher, political economist, and revolutionary. ... “Lenin” redirects here. ... Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903[1][2] – 21 January 1950), better known by the pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist. ... William Morris, socialist and innovator in the Arts and Crafts movement William Morris (March 24, 1834 – October 3, 1896) was an English artist, writer, socialist and activist. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... A heckler is a person who shouts an uninvited comment, usually disparaging, at a performance or event, or interrupting set-piece speeches, for example at a political meeting. ...

It has been argued that the existence of a specific location where free speech is permitted is used as an excuse by the authorities to prohibit free speech in most public spaces in London, including the rest of Hyde Park and all other Royal Parks, where free speech is explicitly forbidden in written by-laws. In the late 19th century, for instance, a combination of park by-laws, use of the Highways Acts and abuse of venue licensing powers of the London County Council made it one of the few places where socialist speakers could meet and debate. The Royal Parks of London are lands originally owned by the monarchy of England or the United Kingdom for the recreation of the royal family. ... London County Council emblem is still seen today on buildings, especially housing, from that era London County Council (LCC) was the principal local government body for the County of London from 1889 until 1965, when it was replaced by the Greater London Council. ...

In 2003 the Park authorities tried to ban a demonstration set for February 15 to stop the war in Iraq. This caused general uproar and forced a climbdown; the demonstration was the largest in British history with over 1 million people attending. February 15 is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... There have been three conflicts in the late 20th century and early 21st century called Gulf War, all of which refer to conflicts in the Persian Gulf region: Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) (aka First Gulf War). ...

Notable speakers

The following organisations and individuals have a well-established history of speaking regularly at Speakers' Corner.

• Socialist Party of Great Britain (since 1904)
• Donald Soper (1926–1998)
• Heiko Khoo (since 1986)
• Socialist Studies (since 1991)

Arguing against capitalism, Speakers Corner, October 31, 2004 The Socialist Party of Great Britain, also known as the SPGB, is a small Marxist party, which is emphatically not Leninist. ... Donald Oliver Soper (31st January, 1903 - 22nd December, 1998), later known as Lord Soper, was a prominent Methodist minister, socialist and pacifist. ... Socialist Studies is the name of a quarterly Marxist zine and of the group which publishes it. ...

Other countries

Australia

There is a Speakers' Corner in the Domain in Sydney, New South Wales, established in 1878. 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 after 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. ABC.net The Domain is a large open space in Sydney, Australia, immediately east of the central business district. ... The Sydney Opera House on Sydney Harbour Sydney (pronounced ) is the most populous city in Australia, with a metropolitan area population of over 4,200,000 people, and 151,920 within the city centre. ... Capital Sydney Government Constitutional monarchy Governor Professor Marie Bashir Premier Morris Iemma (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 50  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product ($m)  $305,437 (1st)  - Product per capita  $45,153/person (4th) Population (End of March 2006)  - Population  6,817,100 (1st)  - Density  8. ...

Canada

Speakers' Corner in Regina, Saskatchewan

Dedicated by the Earl of Mountbatten on April 12, 1966, Speakers' Corner in Regina, Saskatchewan is located on the north shore of Wascana Lake. It serves as a constant reminder of the notion of free speech and assembly and a tribute to Saskatchewan 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 Speaker's Corner in London, England. The podia on the main plaza are from the exterior columns of the Old City Hall (1908-1965) and symbolize free speech in democracy at the municipal level of government. Six paper birch trees were taken from Runnymede Meadow in Windsor Great Park, Royal Estate near Windsor Castle. It was there that King John signed the Magna Carta on June 15, 1215. The ten gas lamps surrounding the corner come from King Charles Street which runs from Whitehall to St. James Park, London, England near the Houses of Parliament. They were erected in 1908 during the reign of Edward VII, whose royal cypher E.R. VII appears on the base of each lamp. Image File history File links Speakers_corner. ... Image File history File links Speakers_corner. ... Nickname: The Queen City Motto: Floreat Regina (Let Regina Flourish) Location of Regina in the SE quadrant of Saskatchewan Coordinates: Country Canada Province Saskatchewan District Assiniboia Established 1882 Government  - City Mayor Pat Fiacco  - Governing body Regina City Council  - MPs Dave Batters Ralph Goodale Tom Lukiwski Andrew Scheer  - MLAs Joanne Crofford... Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC (25 June 1900 – 27 August 1979) was a British admiral and statesman and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. ... Nickname: The Queen City Motto: Floreat Regina (Let Regina Flourish) Location of Regina in the SE quadrant of Saskatchewan Coordinates: Country Canada Province Saskatchewan District Assiniboia Established 1882 Government  - City Mayor Pat Fiacco  - Governing body Regina City Council  - MPs Dave Batters Ralph Goodale Tom Lukiwski Andrew Scheer  - MLAs Joanne Crofford... Wascana Lake from the Willow Island Overlook Wascana Centre (formally established in 1962) is a 9. ... Motto: Multis E Gentibus Vires (Latin: From many peoples strength) Capital Regina Largest city Saskatoon Official languages English Government - Lieutenant-Governor Gordon Barnhart - Premier Lorne Calvert (NDP) Federal representation in Canadian Parliament - House seats 14 - Senate seats 6 Confederation September 1, 1905 (Split from NWT) (9th (province)) Area Ranked 7th... London — containing the City of London — is the capital of the United Kingdom and of England and a major world city. With over seven million inhabitants (Londoners) in Greater London area, it is amongst the most densely populated areas in Western Europe. ... Species Many species; see text and classification Birch is the name of any tree of the genus Betula, in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. ... Runnymede is a water-meadow alongside the River Thames in the English county of Surrey. ... Deer crossing the Long Walk to Windsor Castle Windsor Great Park (locally referred to simply as the Great Park) is a large deer park and Crown Estate of 5,000 acres, to the south of the town of Windsor on the border of Berkshire and Surrey in England. ... Windsor castle, a thousand-year-old fortress transformed into a royal palace. ... John deer hunting, from a manuscript in the British Library. ... Magna Carta Magna Carta (Latin for Great Charter, literally Great Paper), also called Magna Carta Libertatum (Great Charter of Freedoms), is an English charter originally issued in 1215. ... A certified copy of the Magna Carta March 4 - King John of England makes an oath to the Pope as a crusader to gain the support of Innocent III. June 15 - King John of England was forced to put his seal on the Magna Carta, outlining the rights of landowning... 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... Edward VII King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Emperor of India His Majesty King Edward VII (Albert Edward) (9 November 1841–6 May 1910) was the first British monarch of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. ... The Royal Cypher of Queen Elizabeth II, surmounted with a crown. ...

Netherlands

In the Netherlands, there is a permanently designated speakers' corner called the Spreeksteen in Amsterdam. Lawfully, every person has the freedom of speech as a matter of right. In practice, there is considerable ambiguity which gives mayors and other authorities the semi-lawful powers to prevent or distort free speech. The 'Spreeksteen' is open for free speech at a 24/7 basis and until further notice there is in fact 100% free speech on the spot. The 'Spreeksteen' has been located in the Oosterpark in Amsterdam since May 5, 2005, and has been erected by a citizens action after the brutal murder of filmmaker and columnist Theo van Gogh. Plans for bringing the Amsterdam Speakers' Corner online with a camera and microphone are in a phase of installation and will be completed in 2006. The domain for the webcam will be: spreeksteen.nl There are speakers at least every Sunday afternoon from 1:30 pm. Nickname: Motto: Heldhaftig, Vastberaden, Barmhartig (Valiant, Determined, Compassionate) Location of Amsterdam Coordinates: Country Netherlands Province North Holland Government  - Mayor Job Cohen (PvdA)  - Aldermen Lodewijk Asscher Hennah Buyne Carolien Gehrels Tjeerd Herrema Maarten van Poelgeest Marijke Vos  - Secretary Erik Gerritsen Area [1][2]  - City 219 km²  (84. ... Nickname: Motto: Heldhaftig, Vastberaden, Barmhartig (Valiant, Determined, Compassionate) Location of Amsterdam Coordinates: Country Netherlands Province North Holland Government  - Mayor Job Cohen (PvdA)  - Aldermen Lodewijk Asscher Hennah Buyne Carolien Gehrels Tjeerd Herrema Maarten van Poelgeest Marijke Vos  - Secretary Erik Gerritsen Area [1][2]  - City 219 km²  (84. ... May 5 is the 125th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (126th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Theo (or Theodore or Theodorus) van Gogh may refer to one of the following members of the Dutch van Gogh family: Theodorus van Gogh (1822-1885), father of Vincent van Gogh Theo van Gogh (art dealer) (1857-1890), brother of Vincent van Gogh Theo van Gogh (film director) (1957-2004...

The Spreeksteen got into controversy when they allowed Michiel Smit, a rightist, to speak on October 1st, 2006. Antifascists used noise to prevent Smit from being heard. René Danen, a former council member, threatened the Spreeksteen foundation with criminal prosecution if they let Smit speak again. Smit is scheduled to speak at the Spreeksteen again on November 5th, 2006. Michiel Smit Michiel Smit (Maasland, Netherlands, 21 August 1976) is a Dutch politician and leader of Nieuw Rechts, a conservative political party. ... The term far-right refers to the relative position a group or person occupies within a political spectrum. ... Anti-Fascism is a belief and practice of opposing all forms of Fascism. ...

Singapore

An empty Speakers' Corner in Singapore.

There is an official Speakers' Corner in Singapore. It was established by the government on September 1, 2000, at Hong Lim Park. The small park is notable for the presence of a large nearby police station. The Corner was established owing to dissatisfactions amongst Singaporeans who have few or no venues to air their public opinions. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2592x1944, 934 KB) [edit] Summary [edit] Licensing I, Gabriel Ehrnst Grundin, took this photo on Good Friday, April 14, 2006. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2592x1944, 934 KB) [edit] Summary [edit] Licensing I, Gabriel Ehrnst Grundin, took this photo on Good Friday, April 14, 2006. ... September 1 is the 244th day of the year (245th in leap years). ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A typical suburban police station in the United States (this one is in San Bruno, California). ...

Only Singapore citizens who have registered with the police at the police station are allowed to speak. Speeches are subject to national laws, for example, racial and religious issues prohibited. [1]

The Corner is opened during daylight hours, from 7 am to 7 pm, every day of the year. The speaker must speak only in one of the four official languages of Singapore.

The Parliament passed an exemption under the Public Entertainment Act to exempt public speeches at Speakers' Corner from licensing requirements.

Initially popular, with 400 speakers registering in the first year, by 2006 this figure was down to 26. The New Paper reported that the area might now be more aptly named “Sneakers’ Corner”, as visitors are more likely to be playing soccer or just hanging around than listening to a speech.[2] The New Paper is Singapores second highest circulating paid English-language newspaper, first launched on July 26, 1988 by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH). ... Football is a ball game played between two teams of eleven players, each attempting to win by scoring more goals than their opponent. ...

Speeches in the park are not televisionized or reported in the media. The young have found it much easier to discuss issues at the Internet forums than in the government-designated Speakers' Corner.

Trinidad and Tobago

Woodford Square in Port of Spain, Trinidad, is a famous Speakers Corner. The corner is also known as "The University of Woodford Square", so named by the first prime minister of Trinidad Eric Williams who gave many speeches here. Another nickname, "People's Parliament," comes from the Black 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. Port of Spain, population 49,000 (2000), is the capital of Trinidad and Tobago and the countrys second largest city by population, after San Fernando. ... Look up Trinidad in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Dr. Eric Williams Dr. Eric Eustace Williams (September 25, 1911 – March 29, 1981) was the first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. ... Tommie Smith (gold medal) and John Carlos (bronze medal) famously performed the Black Power salute on the 200 m winners podium at the 1968 Olympics. ...

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".

United States

The United States does not have any permanently designated speakers corners but has instead adopted free speech zones, though these relate more to where activities such as picketing and pamphleteering are allowed, rather than speech itself. The free speech zone at the 2004 Democratic National Convention Free speech zones (also known as First Amendment Zones or derisively as Free speech cages) are areas in the United States that are set aside for political protesters to exercise their right to free speech. ...

Books devoted to

• The Speakers (1964) by Heathcote Williams
• A Summer in the Park - A Journal of Speakers' Corner (2004) by Tony Allen, foreword by Ken Campbell

See also: 1963 in literature, other events of 1964, 1965 in literature, list of years in literature. ... Heathcote Williams (b. ... // Canada Reads selects Guy Vanderhaeghes The Last Crossing to be read across the nation. ... The name Ken Campbell can refer to: The British artist and book maker Ken Campbell The British writer and actor Ken Campbell The US actor Ken Hudson Campbell The Canadian evangelist Ken Campbell An American philosopher[Ken Campbell] This is a disambiguation page, a list of pages that otherwise might...

Media references

• Canadian reality television show, Speakers' Corner (television series)
• Episode 24 of Season 6 of the comedy TV series Married... with Children had the Bundy family paying a visit to Speakers' Corner.
• Monty Python's Life of Brian has a scene where Brian and other prophets address small crowds in a corner of a market - in a way reminiscent of and presumably modelled on Speakers' Corner.
• In Omen III: The Final Conflict, the adult Damien passes through Speakers' Corner and is pointed out as Satan by the priest who speaks there.
• The BBC produced a program on the Park Police.
• BBC 3 produced a program with Tony Allen on heckling as a lost art for the election in 2005. It was based around teaching two people how to heckle at Speakers' Corner.
• The lyrics of British rock group Dire Straits' song Industrial Disease (from the Love Over Gold album) refer to Speakers' Corner: "And I go down to Speakers' Corner, I'm a-thunderstruck, they got free speech, tourists, police in trucks. Two men say they're Jesus, one of them must be wrong. There's a protester singing, and he's singing a protest song..."
• Speaker's Corner appears in one of the early issues of the Grant Morrison comic book The Invisibles (later reprinted at the first Invisibles graphic novel, Say You Want A Revolution).

Speakers Corner is a Canadian television series, which airs weekly on Citytv. ... Comedy has a classical meaning (comical theatre) and a popular one (the use of humour with an intent to provoke[[ laughter in general). ... Married… with Children was a long-running American sitcom about a dysfunctional family living in Chicago. ... Monty Pythons Life of Brian is a 1979 comedy written and performed by the Monty Python comedy team. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion (US$7. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Love over Gold is the fourth album by British rock band Dire Straits. ... Grant Morrison (born January 31, 1960) is a Scottish comic book writer and artist. ... A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ... Cover to The Invisibles (v2) #1. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Speakers' Corner

• The Speakers' Corner web site The web site contains radio and video archives of speeches, discussions and soundscapes from Speakers' Corner Hyde Park since 2003.
• Hyde Park Union: Documentary about Speakers' Corner
• Tony Allen's web site with a diary on Speakers' Corner
• Binaural audio recordings and photography from Speakers' Corner The site contains binaural recordings and photography from Speakers corner since 2005.
• Speakers' Corner Hyde Park: flickr gallery
• History of Woodford Square
• The Dutch Speakers' Corner web site The web site contains radio, tv and video news & archives of speeches, discussions and soundscapes from Speakers' Corner Oosterpark since 2005.

Coordinates: 51°30′44″N, 0°09′31″W Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... The Wikimedia Commons (also called Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...